hear

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To notice a sound with your ears.

   I could hear birds singing outside my window.

2. 2
   verb

   To be told about something or learn of it.

   I heard that you got a new job — congratulations!

3. 3
   verb

   To receive news or a message from someone.

   I haven't heard from my brother in months.

4. 4
   verb

   To listen to and consider a request.

   The king finally agreed to hear her plea.

5. 5
   verb

   To listen to and decide a case in a court of law.

   The judge will hear the case next week.

Common collocations

• hear a cry Verb + noun
• hear the news Verb + noun
• hear a knock Verb + noun
• hear about Verb + preposition/particle
• hear from Verb + preposition/particle
• hear back Verb + preposition/particle
• hear of Verb + preposition/particle

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₂ṓws Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *h₂ḱh₂owsyéti Proto-Germanic *hauzijaną Proto-West Germanic *hauʀijan Old English hīeran Middle English heren English hear From Middle English heren, from Old English hīeran (“to hear”), from Proto-West Germanic *hauʀijan, from Proto-Germanic *hauzijaną (“to hear”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ḱh₂owsyéti (“to be sharp-eared”), from *h₂eḱ- (“sharp”) + *h₂ows- (“ear”) + *-yéti (denominative suffix). Cognates Cognate with Saterland…

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