hear

1 of 2

verb

ˈhir How to pronounce hear (audio)
heard ˈhərd How to pronounce hear (audio) ; hearing ˈhir-iŋ How to pronounce hear (audio)
Synonyms of hear

transitive verb

1
: to perceive or become aware of by the ear
didn't hear what she said
thought I heard them leave
2
a
: to gain knowledge of by hearing
heard that you were ill
b
: detect sense 2
heard anger in his voice
3
a
: to listen to with attention : heed
would not hear my side of the story
b
: attend
hear mass
4
law
a
: to listen to legal arguments in : to give a legal hearing to or about
hear a case
b(1)
: to take testimony from
hear witnesses
(2)
: to take (as testimony) at a hearing
heard statements from witnesses

intransitive verb

1
: to have the capacity of perceiving sound : to be able to become aware of sound
He doesn't hear well.
2
a
: to gain information : learn
tired of hearing about his problems
b
: to receive communication
haven't heard from her lately
3
—often used in the expression Hear! Hear! to express approval (as during a speech)
hearer
ˈhir-ər How to pronounce hear (audio)
noun
see also:
hear of hear out

hearer

2 of 2

noun

hear·​er -rə(r) How to pronounce hearer (audio)
plural -s
1
: one that hears : auditor
2
: audient sense 2

Synonyms of hear

Relevance

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of hear in a Sentence

Verb Do you hear that music? I couldn't hear a word of what he said over all that noise. I thought I heard him leave. Would you turn the volume up a little? I can't hear. I heard her in concert a few years ago. Have you ever heard Wagner sung in English? The committee will hear witnesses today. I hear he's leaving town. I don't know what happened. I'll let you know if I hear anything. I've heard it said that smoking is bad for your health.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Last-minute legal maneuvers The Supreme Judicial Court heard an emergency appeal from Reddington in the case early Friday afternoon. — Carmel Wroth, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026 Kathmandu, Nepal — Two people have been rescued from a tunnel in Nepal and voices have been heard, nine days after massive flash floods and landslides hit the Nepal-China border trapping hundreds of workers inside multiple Himalayan energy projects. — Bhadra Sharma, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026 Jimenez, who coached the Spanish club from 2023 to 2025, had heard that kind of thing before. — Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 After hearing the swimmer’s story from Lake Tahoe over the weekend, Rust did one of the hardest things a person can do. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hear

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English heren, from Old English hīeran; akin to Old High German hōren to hear, and probably to Latin cavēre to be on guard, Greek akouein to hear

Noun

Middle English herere, from heren to hear + -ere -er

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hear was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing hear

Rhymes for hear

See All Rhymes for hear

Browse Nearby Words

heap roasting
hear
hearable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hear. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

hear

verb
ˈhi(ə)r How to pronounce hear (audio)
heard ˈhərd How to pronounce hear (audio) ; hearing ˈhi(ə)r-iŋ How to pronounce hear (audio)
1
: to take in through the ear
hear music
also : to have the power of taking in sound
doesn't hear well
2
: to gain knowledge of by hearing : learn
heard you're leaving
3
: to listen to : heed
hear me out
4
a
: to give a legal hearing to
hear a case
b
: to take testimony from
hear witnesses
5
a
: to get news
heard from them yesterday
b
: to have knowledge
never heard of such a thing
6
: to consider the idea
wouldn't hear of it
hearer
ˈhir-ər How to pronounce hear (audio)
noun

Medical Definition

hear

verb
ˈhi(ə)r How to pronounce hear (audio)
heard ˈhərd How to pronounce hear (audio) ; hearing ˈhi(ə)r-iŋ How to pronounce hear (audio)

transitive verb

: to perceive or apprehend by the ear

intransitive verb

: to have the capacity of apprehending sound

Legal Definition

hear

transitive verb
heard; hearing
1
a
: to give a hearing to
the court heard the claims
the judge agreed to hear argument on the objection
b
: to conduct a hearing about
the magistrate's authority to hear a matter properly before him
2
a
: to take testimony from
the committee will hear 30 witnesses
b
: to take (as testimony) at a hearing
the judge heard statements from the victim's family
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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