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Master confusing words with ease

Hear vs. Listen

Hear

/hɪə/

To perceive sound through the ears or listen to something

Examples:

I hear a dog.Can you hear the music?

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Listen

/ˈlɪsən/

To pay attention to sound or to hear something with intent.

Examples:

Listen to music.Can you listen to my story?

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Ways to tell them apart:

Listen implies paying attention to sound, while hear is simply perceiving sound.
When you listen, you usually do it intentionally, while hear can happen without trying.
Listen often requires focus, while hear can occur even if you're distracted.

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