Ho ho, you have always been the brightest amongst my grandchildren! But hearken now: I have come from the nether realm to entrust thee with a task of utmost importance!
Source: tatoeba (2904549)
Hearken
/ˈhɑːk(ə)n/
Synonyms for "hearken" (39 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (8)
Verb(1 words)
Strong matches (12)
Related words (19)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: attend, attend, attend to, auscultate, be all ears.
- Sentence evidence is available for hearken, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, wordnet, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "hearken".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "hearken"
Keep "hearken" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "hearken" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "hearken", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "hearken" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
4 entriesMore specific
8 entriesattend closelyfollow directiveshear yeheed scripturelisten closelylisten upobey commandsobey revelation
Collocations
9 entriesattend tobiblical Englishgive ear tohear yehearken tohearken untolisten attentivelylisten uppay heed
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesSample sentences
29 total sentences available.
But gladly sire Anchises hails the sign, / and gazing upward through the starlit air, / his hands and voice together lifts in prayer: / "O Jove omnipotent, dread power benign, / if aught our piety deserve, if e'er / a suppliant move thee, hearken and incline / this once, and aid us now and ratify thy sign."
Source: tatoeba (6872764)
"Ye too, my servants, hearken my commands. / Outside the city is a mound, where, dear / to Ceres once, but now deserted, stands / a temple, and an aged cypress near, / for ages hallowed with religious fear."
Source: tatoeba (6878173)
And God said to him: Let it not seem grievous to thee for the boy, and for thy bondwoman: in all that Sara hath said to thee, hearken to her voice: for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Source: tatoeba (7867214)
Showing 4 of 29 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "hearken"?
Closest matches include attend, attend, attend to, auscultate, be all ears.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "hearken"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.