What does "listening" mean?
An act by which something or somebody is listened to.
Listening
adj, noun, verb
adj, noun, verb ·3 syllables ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An act by which something or somebody is listened to.
- Grammar: listening is listed as adj, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: hearing, alert, all ears, analyze.
- Useful contrasts: earless, delivering, discoursing.
- Usage evidence: You are always hearing but not listening.
How to use "listening"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "listening" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "listening" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "listening" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "listening" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "listening" is acting as adj, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "hearing" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "listening", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An act by which something or somebody is listened to.
"This symphony grows on me more and more with each listening."
- 2 the act of hearing attentively wordnet
- 3 An educational exercise involving listening.
"OK, students, today we're going to do a couple of listenings about the environment, then a reading about crime."
- 4 Skill or ability of perceiving spoken language.
"You can improve your listening well by watching English-language films."
Verb
- 1 present participle and gerund of listen form-of, gerund, participle, present
"It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant. The young priests who lived here wore cassocks and birettas; their faces were fine and mild, yet really strong, like the rector's face; and in their intercourse with him and his wife they seemed to be brothers."
Adjective
- 1 Of something or someone that listens. not-comparable
"Any listening person can tell she's lying."
- 2 Of something that is used in order to hear or to improve the ability to hear. not-comparable
"He could hear better when he used his listening device."
- 3 Of an action that is performed with caution and attention to sounds. not-comparable
"The safest cover lay close under the wall of the cañon, and here through the dense thickets Venters made his slow, listening advance toward the oval."
Example
"You are always hearing but not listening."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "listening"?
Common synonyms include: hearing, alert, all ears, analyze, assess, attend.
How do you use "listening" in a sentence?
You are always hearing but not listening.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English listnynge, lustninde, from Old English hlysnende, equivalent to listen + -ing.
Etymology 2
From Middle English listnynge, lustnynge, lystenynge, equivalent to listen + -ing.