DictionaryAI

hearing

SayHEER-ing/ˈhɪɹ.ɪŋ/UK/ˈhɪə.ɹɪŋ/

Pluralhearings (some meanings)

9 meanings of hearing

Practice

  1. 1
    sense of soundnoununcountable
    The sense by which sound is perceived.

    Her hearing is sharp enough to catch a whisper across the room.

    Years of loud concerts left his hearing noticeably duller.

    UsageUsually with a possessive: her hearing, your hearing. Hard of hearing means partly deaf.

  2. 2
    verb
    Present participle and gerund of hear.

    We're hearing more reports of delays across the region.

    After hearing the verdict, the family embraced outside the courtroom.

    UsageFor a sound right now, English usually says I hear or I can hear; we're hearing suits news and reports.

  3. 3
    court sessionnouncountable
    A formal meeting, such as a session in court or before an official committee, at which evidence or testimony is heard before a decision is made.

    The judge set a hearing for Tuesday to rule on the suppression motion.

    At the bail hearing, prosecutors argued the defendant posed a flight risk.

    UsageCourts hold or set a hearing; the type usually comes first: a bail hearing, a public hearing.

    Note

    The lawyer's hearing is narrower than a trial. A judge sits without a jury to settle a particular question, such as bail, whether evidence may be admitted, or a preliminary finding. Ed Pilkington's 2012 report on Reggie Clemons describes one to be held before a "special master." When a council or committee holds a public hearing on local business, no judge presides.

  4. 4
    adjective
    Possessing the sense of hearing, as distinguished from being deaf.

    Most hearing people never learn more than a few signs.

    Their hearing daughter often interprets at the doctor's office for her deaf parents.

    UsageUsually before a noun, in contrast with deaf: hearing people, a hearing child.

    Oppositedeaf

    Note

    That contrast is why it turns up so often in writing about Deaf culture, where it names a social group as much as an ability.

hearing is a form of hear

hear, verb: To perceive sound with the ears, either as a general ability or by catching a particular sound. Full entry

Forms
hearhears he/she/ithearing -ing formheard past tense, past participle
Spelling
hear → hearing: add -ing

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of hearing apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

Formed from the verb "hear" combined with the suffix "-ing".

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact