Hear vs listen
Hear means to notice a sound with your ears, even without trying. Listen means to pay attention to sounds on purpose.
Hear has ear inside it: a sound just reaches your ear. To listen, you choose to pay attention.
hear verb
To notice a sound with your ears. It can happen without trying.
- From the porch we could hear the river rushing over the rocks.
- I heard a dog barking outside last night.
listen verb
To pay attention to sounds on purpose, using your ears.
- Doctors listen to the heart and lungs with a stethoscope.
- Please listen carefully to the instructions.
Watch out
- Hear can also mean to listen on purpose, as when a judge hears a case in court or a committee hears a proposal.The judge agreed to hear arguments from both sides before ruling.
- Hear can also mean to find out about something, often from another person.I heard the details of the deal from a colleague at the office.
- Listen can also mean to do what someone tells you or to take their advice.I warned her about the icy roads, but she wouldn't listen.
Test yourself
Did you blank that loud bang outside?
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hear. A sudden bang reaches your ears whether you try or not.
Please be quiet and blank carefully.
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listen. You are asked to pay attention on purpose.
The judge will blank the case on Monday.
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hear. In court, hear means to listen to a case and decide it.
I keep giving him advice, but he won't blank.
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listen. Listen can also mean to take someone's advice.