listener

noun

lis·​ten·​er ˈli-sᵊn-ər How to pronounce listener (audio)
ˈlis-nər
plural listeners
: one who listens to someone or something
a radio program with many listeners
a friend who's a good listener [=who listens attentively and sympathetically]
Fanny, being always a very courteous listener, and often the only listener at hand, came in for the complaints and distresses of most of them.Jane Austen
The average concertgoer drifts in and out of the music, often losing the thread. The listener can't always hear the music in the music, and tends to notice only the most obvious (usually the loudest) events.David Schiff

Examples of listener in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The soundstage changes as the listener moves their head, creating a real-world spatial effect with the widest sound where individual instruments are placed in three dimensions. Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025 Viewers and listeners of PBS and NPR are significantly more affluent than the average American, which gives them the means to support public broadcasting through voluntary contributions. The Editors, National Review, 14 July 2025 Their conversation left a strong impression on Duritz, and the reactions from friends and listeners told him the appearance had struck a chord. Glenn Peoples, Billboard, 11 July 2025 At Invitation Media, Linsky and Graham are developing The Listening Project, a podcast about how to become a better listener, in partnership with The Washington Post. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for listener

Word History

First Known Use

1572, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of listener was in 1572

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Cite this Entry

“Listener.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/listener. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

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