hear Hear it!

hear Definition

hear (hir)

transitive verb heardhʉrd, 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)

hear Related Forms

hear′er noun

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

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.

hear Usage Examples

Object

  • voice: Scott could hear strange voices coming from rooms nearby.
  • sound: Initial tests are based on the child's ability to hear a few sounds made by the assessor.
  • rumor: On a more positive note, he's heard rumors of a shop opening in Hailsham, which he will investigate.
  • noise: During smoking, one can hear a merry noise inside the bamboo pipe.
  • anything: Except for about half a dozen there seems to be no one who ever goes anywhere, sees anything or even hears anything.
  • appeal: He does not go so far as to argue that this court has no jurisdiction to hear appeals.

Subject

  • tribunal: Anyone called up could appeal and have his case heard by a tribunal.
  • magistrate: Petty Sessions archives typically relate to criminal cases heard by the magistrates or justices of the peace for each division or boro.

Adjective complement

more: You a catch up with what I am doing on my www Looking forward to hearing more about your year on your plot.

Used with why or when

  • what: I would like to hear what you thought of the site.
  • when: Astounded " I couldn't believe what I was hearing when they said I could come back if I finished my relationship.

Present participle complement

  • sing: Willow Warbler 10 males were heard singing in the Jersey Farm, St Albans area on the 1st ( WHAT ).
  • shout: I have heard shouting declamation in the belief that what is being uttered is right on and somehow made the more so by declamation.

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: from

  • anyone: We would be happy to hear from anyone who has information about Fife coastal names.
  • anybody: Met Office 2. I would be pleased to hear from anybody who can remember me.
  • someone: It is really helpful to hear from someone with the same problems.

Preposition: by

  • tribunal: Anyone called up could appeal and have his case heard by a tribunal.
  • magistrate: Petty Sessions archives typically relate to criminal cases heard by the magistrates or justices of the peace for each division or boro.