# listening

Pronunciation: say "LIS-ning" /ˈlɪs.nɪŋ/

## Verb

1. Present participle and gerund of listen. — present participle and gerund of listen
   - Simple: Present participle and gerund of listen. Use this form for something happening now or as the name of the activity.
   - _He spent the evening listening to old jazz records._
   - _Listening from the next room, she heard every word._

## Adjective

2. Used in order to hear, or to help improve someone's ability to hear.
   - Simple: Used to hear better, or to help someone hear.
   - _The spy planted a tiny listening device under the desk._
   - _Modern listening equipment can pick up a whisper across a large hall._
5. Giving attention by ear to sounds or to what is being said.
   - Simple: Paying attention to sounds or to what someone says.
   - _The therapist is always a calm, listening presence for her clients._
   - _A good host turns a quiet guest into a listening companion._
7. Performed with caution and close attention to sounds.
   - Simple: Done carefully, while paying attention to any sounds.
   - _The scout advanced with a listening care, weighing each footstep._
   - _A listening hush fell over the room as the floorboards groaned._

## Noun

3. The skill or ability to perceive and understand spoken language.
   - Simple: The skill of understanding what people say when you hear them.
   - _Strong listening helps you follow complex instructions correctly._
   - _The language course tests listening before grammar and writing._
4. A single act of attending by ear to something or someone.
   - Simple: A time when you listen to something or someone.
   - _One quiet listening of the recording revealed a voice in the background._
   - _The jury requested a second listening of the emergency call._
6. An educational exercise that involves listening to spoken material.
   - Simple: A class activity where you listen to something and answer questions.
   - _The teacher played the audio twice for the final listening._
   - _Each listening on the exam came with five comprehension questions._

## Origin

**Meanings 1–2, 5, 7** — From Middle English listnynge, from Old English hlysnende, formed from "listen" plus the ending "-ing."
**Meanings 3–4, 6** — From Middle English listnynge, formed from "listen" plus the ending "-ing."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/listening (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).