harken

verb

as in to listen
to pay attention especially through the act of hearing young people would do well to read this wise and witty book and harken to its message

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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 harken Al’s harkened back to another era. — Gregg Olsen, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026 The adults-only fundraiser will feature dinner and a dance floor that harkens back to the ’70s. — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 June 2026 The name harkens back to some of the earliest days of the North American colonies. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026 That’s the arc the film settled on, one that harkens back to the DC Comics Silver Age. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 4 July 2026 Each space boasts exposed brick and timbered ceilings, harkening to the industrial construction of the 19th-century building. — Matt Kirouac, Midwest Living, 7 June 2026 The Tonight Show really Tonight Show’d off, harkening back to the Carson days with both stand-up and magic making appearances in the lineup. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 12 June 2026 Steven Spielberg is sometimes unfairly tagged as the ultimate Boomer, repeatedly harkening back to the entertainment that spellbound him in his youth. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026 The custom look from AWGE (fellow performer A$AP Rocky’s label) harkened back to the grunge era, pairing ripped denim with a crop top, accentuated by a flannel button-down wrapped around her waist. — John Monaco, InStyle, 9 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harken
  1. listen
  2. hear
Verb
  • Today, tomorrow Today, guests can still relax under trees and listen to Knoebels’ century-old Grand Carousel.
    — Eve Chen, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Despite listening to playlists and podcasts, the landscape gradually becomes the main attraction.
    — Lara Johnson-Wheeler, Vogue, 3 July 2026
Definition of listen
Verb
  • Imagine the outrage if Smith heard someone question how far an NFL team could go with a Black quarterback, Black head coach and Black general manager.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • Commissioners also changed the sound levels from 55 decibels to 65 DBA, a measurement used to measure sound at how humans hear the noise.
    — Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 2 July 2026
Definition of hear

Phrases Containing harken

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harked (to)
harken
harken back (to)
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Cite this Entry

“Harken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harken. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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