hear

pronunciation

How to pronounce hear in British English: UK [hɪə(r)]word uk audio image

How to pronounce hear in American English: US [hɪr] word us audio image

  • Verb:
    perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
    get to know or become aware of, usually accidentally
    examine or hear (evidence or a case) by judicial process
    receive a communication from someone
    listen and pay attention

Word Origin

hear
hear: [OE] The prehistoric Germanic verb for ‘hear’ was *khauzjan, which produced German hören, Dutch hooren, Swedish höra, Danish høre, and English hear. Some etymologists have suggested links with Greek akoúein ‘hear’ (source of English acoustic), and also with Latin cavēre ‘beware’ and Russian chuvstvovat’ ‘feel, perceive’, but these have not been conclusively demonstrated.
hear (v.)
Old English heran (Anglian), (ge)hieran, hyran (West Saxon) "to hear, perceive by the ear, listen (to), obey, follow; accede to, grant; judge," from Proto-Germanic *hauzjan (cognates: Old Norse heyra, Old Frisian hora, Dutch horen, German hören, Gothic hausjan), from PIE *kous- "to hear" (see acoustic). The shift from *-z- to -r- is a regular feature in some Germanic languages. For the vowels, see head (n.); spelling distinction between hear and here developed 1200-1550. Meaning "be told, learn by report" is from early 14c. Old English also had the excellent adjective hiersum "ready to hear, obedient," literally "hear-some" with suffix from handsome, etc. Hear, hear! (1680s) originally was imperative, an exclamation to call attention to a speaker's words ("hear him!"); now a general cheer of approval. To not hear of "have nothing to do with" is from 1754.

Synonym

vt.

listen heed

Example

1. Just don 't wanna hear ur voice .
2. Would love to hear your stories .
3. Unfortunately , mexicans hear about them all the time .
4. Now hear me about elizabeth warren .
5. The court readied a panel to hear the appeal .

more: >How to Use "hear" with Example Sentences