hear

verb

ˈhir How to pronounce hear (audio)
Definition of hearnext
1
as in to realize
to come to an awareness of I heard your sister is home from the hospital

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to listen
to pay attention especially through the act of hearing at least hear what I have to say before you start disagreeing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hear Lizzie Borden was in the home but claimed not to have heard anything. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026 To hear Gray’s full interview, airing in November, subscribe to the Filmmaker Toolkit podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform. — Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2026 Amy Watson, who teaches at Wayne State University in Detroit and specializes in police handling of mental health issues, hadn’t heard about the Wilmette program before talking with Pioneer Press in December. — Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026 Many of us hear talk of plague and think that humanity, as ever, will manage to muddle through. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hear
  1. realize
  2. listen
  3. see
  4. discover
  5. learn
  6. find
Verb
  • Like Bill Gates and MacKenzie Scott today, Rosenwald realized that people who command great wealth have corresponding responsibilities to help others.
    — Harold Pollack, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • In hearing their stories, Knopf came to realize that none had ever really learned how to teach children to read.
    — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of realize
Verb
  • Smith said that South Carolina leading off — with many Southern states following on Super Tuesday soon after the early slate concludes — means that progressives will have to take the time to listen and then tailor their messages.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • And that writing gives the fleeting moment a chance to endure, even when the world is unable to stop and listen.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of listen
Verb
  • While a thin sliver will remain illuminated by direct sunlight, most of the lunar surface will appear dramatically darkened with a subtle reddish-orange glow — reminiscent of a total lunar eclipse seen across North America on March 3.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • As premier, she has rarely been seen in public wearing all-black suits and boots.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of see
Verb
  • Between 60% and 70% of new Ebola cases are being detected among people who were not already being monitored as contacts, meaning health workers may only discover infections after patients become sick and have had opportunities to expose others.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The researchers then discovered that the second population of neurons, called Ddah1+ neurons, responded to stress.
    — Isabella Backman, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of discover
Verb
  • The courses, Cristerna said, would have been useful in learning how to negotiate brand deals, maximize monetization opportunities and cultivate and keep an audience.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • But by the next month, Tufts learned Clancy had started taking multiple other medications prescribed by another provider.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of learn
Verb
  • Going into November, an Associated Press analysis found that Wasserman Schultz is the only white Democrat positioned to represent any of the remaining districts with a Black majority or plurality.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • About one in three home sales in the Bay Area were all cash from April through June, Redfin found.
    — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of find

Browse Nearby Words

heaps
hear
heard
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hear. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on hear

Nglish: Translation of hear for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of divulge

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All