listener

noun

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
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.
Working with other artists offers opportunities to exchange creative ideas, develop different sounds, and reach listeners who may not have previously encountered an artist’s music. — Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026 The second episode brings listeners along as AJC reporters follow the evidence behind the Fulton County investigation and unpack how skeptics, activists, lawmakers and election officials have spent years fighting over what really happened. — Ajc Communications, AJC.com, 22 Oct. 2026 Jeffries is described as a listener, who often jots down what colleagues say in meetings, a bottom-up style of leadership that works to build consensus. — ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026 For a specific variety of listener, Nirosta Steel was the hot new artist of the summer. — Jack Denton, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Listener.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/listener. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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