hear Hear it!

hear definition

hear (hir)

transitive verb heard (hʉrd), hearing hear′·ing

  1. to perceive or sense (sounds), esp. through stimulation of auditory nerves in the ear by sound waves
  2. to listen to and consider; specif.,
    1. to take notice of; pay attention to hear what I tell you
    2. to listen to officially; give a formal hearing to to hear a child's lessons
    3. to conduct an examination or hearing of (a law case, etc.); try
    4. to consent to; grant hear my plea
    5. to understand I hear you
    6. to be a member of the audience at (an opera, lecture, etc.)
  3. to be informed of; be told; learn to hear a rumor

Etymology: ME heren < OE hieran, akin to Ger hören (Goth hausjan) < IE base *keu-, to notice, observe > L cavere, be on one's guard, Gr koein, to perceive, hear

intransitive verb

  1. to have a normally functioning ear or ears; be able to hear sounds
  2. to listen
  3. to be told or informed (of or about)

Related Forms:

hear Idioms

hear from

  1. to get a letter, telegram, etc. from
  2. to get a criticism or reprimand from

hear! hear!

well said!: an expression of approval or agreement

hear out

to listen to until the end

hear tell

Dialectal to be told; learn

not hear of

to forbid or refuse to consider

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms hear idiom

medical hear definition - medical

hear Synonyms

hear

v.

  1. To perceive by ear

    listen to, hearken, hark, give attention, attend to, make out, auscultate, become aware of, catch, descry, apprehend, take in, eavesdrop, detect, perceive by the ear, overhear, take cognizance of, listen with both ears, keep one's ears open, have the sense of hearing, give ear to*, read loud and clear*, strain one's ears*, listen in*, devour someone's words*, get an earful*; see also listen 1.

  2. To receive information aurally

    overhear, eavesdrop, be advised, find out, catch, learn, have it on good authority, learn by general report, have an account, ascertain, descry, receive information, discover, gather, apperceive, be told, understand, hear of, be led to believe, be made aware of, be informed, learn by ear, hear say*, hear tell of*, get wise to*, get an earful*, get wind of*, get the signal*, sit in on*, tune in*; see also listen 2.

  3. To hold a hearing

    preside over, put on trial, summon to court; see try 3.

not hear of

not allow, refuse to consider, reject; see forbid.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

hear Usage Examples

Object

  • voice: Scott could hear strange voices coming from rooms nearby.

Used with why or when

  • what: I would like to hear what you thought of the site.

Preposition: from

  • anyone: We would be happy to hear from anyone who has information about Fife coastal names.

Preposition: in

  • court: Any disputes arising will be heard in the English Courts unless you prefer the courts of Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Preposition: of

  • sighting: We have heard of many sightings previously in the area but not seen one personally.

Preposition: by

  • tribunal: Anyone called up could appeal and have his case heard by a tribunal.
hear usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

hear quotes

   I shall hear in heaven.

-Behn, Aphra ne¤  e  Amis

  Come on and hear, Come on and hear Alexander's Ragtime Band

-Berlin, Irving originally Israel Baline

Hear,O Israel: the L our God is one L: And thou shalt love the L thy God with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

-Bible (Old Testament)

hear quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"hear." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/hear>

APA Style

hear. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/hear

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