LISTENED Synonyms: 12 Similar and Opposite Words

listened

verb

past tense of listen

as in heard

to pay attention especially through the act of hearing would you listen to what I have to say?

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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.

Recent Examples of listened Through a microphone, the journalists listened as Pike spoke what were meant to be her last words—about love—and sang with her Buddhist spiritual adviser. — Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026 Method Man listened to the Wu-Tang Clan’s Once Upon a Time in Shaolin for the first time — and delivered his opinion on the now-infamous, one-copy-only album — on the latest episode of Pablo Torre Finds Out. — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2026 And the group that wanted to put an emergency winter warming shelter into a Boulder Hill church has indeed listened. — Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026 Cheers, jeers, and energetic call-and-response exchanges echoed through the hall as the audience, dressed in bright green, pink, and red, some wearing candidate T-shirts, listened. — Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026 The company had nine of the 10 most listened to artists in the world last year, according to the IFPI, with a market share of nearly 39 percent, according to Billboard, about 11 percent higher than second-place Sony Music. — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026 During their research, the team talked to the police, read books and listened to podcasts to make sure that every element of the plot had a connection to reality. — Marta Balaga, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026 Those vying for the job tried to win voters at a forum Tuesday night, as attendees listened to the three candidates who will have an uphill battle if elected. — Marissa Sulek, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026 Over the course of two hours, witnesses watched and listened as Christa Pike cried, whimpered and snored through Tennessee’s attempt to execute her. — Keri Blakinger, ProPublica, 6 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for listened

heard

Verb

None of these commitments are new, however, and founders have heard versions of them before.

— Sophie Dembinski, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
By providing clear, consistent and frequent communication about the change, leaders foster a sense of stability and clarity, while inviting everyone’s voice to be heard.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of heard

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listen

listened

listened in (on)

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“Listened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/listened. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of listened

verb

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