Master confusing words with ease
Listen vs. Hear
Listen
/ˈlɪsən/Examples:
Listen! There's a strange noise in the engine.I did not understand them, but I enjoyed listening to them.Jo's face was red in the firelight as she listened.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Hear
/hɪə/Examples:
I hear voices in my head.He heard them put down some wood.He could not believe what he was hearing.
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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