hear*/*/*/

[hɪə]

(past tense and past participle heard [hɜːd] ) verb

1) [I/T] to realize that someone or something is making a sound

Mary heard the sound of voices.[/ex]

Shh — I can't hear.[/ex]

No one could hear what she said.[/ex]

He heard the door slam shut.[/ex]

She heard the dog barking outside.[/ex]

2) [I/T] to receive information about something

Did you hear about Jim's party?[/ex]

I came home as soon as I heard what happened.[/ex]

We didn't hear of his death until many years later.[/ex]

I heard he'd got a new job.[/ex]

3) [T] to listen to something such as a speech, performance, or programme

I want to hear the news on the radio before I go.[/ex]

He's got a great voice – you should hear him sing.[/ex]

4) [T] to listen to and judge a legal case in a court of law

•

have heard it (all) before — spoken to not believe what someone is saying, or to not be impressed by it[/ex]

- hear from sb

- hear of sb/sth

- hear sb out

■ When you hear a sound, you become conscious of it: Did you hear the thunder last night? ♦ I didn't hear the door open. ■ When you listen, you deliberately pay attention to a sound in order to hear it: I listened carefully but I couldn't hear what she was saying. ♦ I always listen to the radio in my car. ■ You hear something, but you listen to something.