Synonyms for hear
Definitions
- v. 1
To listen to (a person, case) in a court of law; to try.
Your case will be heard at the end of the month.
- v. 2
To perceive sounds through the ear.
I was deaf, but now I can hear.
- v. 3
To perceive (a sound, or something producing a sound) with the ear, to recognize (something) in an auditory way.
I could hear them quarreling upstairs, but didn’t really listen to their argument.
Forms
- Past participle
- heard
e.g. heard → seen, getten, learnt, discovered…
Choose the right word
Between listen and hear is a difference like that between the words look and see. (Compare synonyms for LOOK.) To hear is simply to become conscious of sound, to listen is to make a conscious effort or endeavor to hear.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- find Everywhere you go, you will find the same scenery.
- read Written in easy English, the book is easy to read.
- understand I understand now why he didn't go to a university.
- learn That game is easy, once you learn the basic rules.
- listen I have no time to listen to such everyday affairs.
- consider I do not consider her choice of music a happy one.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| hear | rising | |
| find | rising | |
| read | steady | |
| understand | rising | |
| learn | rising | |
| listen | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- get1, see1, try1
- 4 letters
- find1, read1, mark1, heed1
- 5 letters
- learn1, judge1, catch1
- 6 letters
- listen2, attend2, harken2
- 7 letters
- hearken, adjudge2
- 8 letters
- consider3, discover3
- 9 letters
- arbitrate3
- 10 letters
- understand3
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (listen2 = 2 syllables).