capacity to hear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "capacity to hear" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing someone's ability to listen or understand, often in legal, medical, or metaphorical situations. Example: "The court must assess the defendant's capacity to hear the charges against them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

On Shakespeare's Fools' Day, we'd test our capacity to hear the truth, in slant, peculiar and painful forms, and to use it to take a few steps in the general direction of freedom.

The New York Times - Books

Telling someone, "Here's what you have to do" releases a chemical in their brain that automatically shuts down their capacity to hear, understand or remember anything you say afterwards.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Scruffy hipsters toting six-packs, blinky Web developers arguing the merits of their preferred P.D.A. and an inordinate number of dreadlocked heads packed the gallery beyond capacity to hear three brief, charmingly unpolished lectures.

The New York Times

Babies are bathed in language from the moment they acquire the capacity to hear in the womb, Everett reasoned, and parents and caregivers expend great energy teaching children how to say words and assemble them into sentences — a process that lasts years.

The New Yorker

Every Friday, Cal's Wheeler Auditorium is filled to capacity to hear Prof. Robert Reich challenge the status quo with his course on "Wealth and Poverty in America".

Huffington Post

Political appeals, even if rooted in religious convictions, must be argued on moral grounds rather than as sectarian religious demands--so that the people (citizens), whether religious or not, may have the capacity to hear and respond.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

His sweet smile, wisdom, intelligence, capacity to listen and to hear, humanity and gentle demeanor will always be remembered.

The New York Times

Competition for bicycle parking can be fierce, as is the scramble just to get in the door of the 400-capacity club to hear top-flight speakers like the New York University astrophysicist David Hogg, who begins this year's season on Jan . 18

The New York Times - Arts

It will allow the arguments about Lord Janner's mental capacity to be heard in public.

The Guardian - Opinion

What he might not have perceived was the awesome feeling of looking out at 63,000 New Yorkers filling the Great Lawn to capacity and beyond, eager to hear Tchaikovsky and Beethoven, and Sibelius and Rossini.

The New York Times

Only 175 showed up in Bow — about one-third the capacity of the room — to hear Mr. Clinton hit his bullet points on the subprime lending crisis, $100 barrels of oil and how "10 of Hillary's fellow senators have endorsed her".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing legal or medical situations, use "capacity to hear" to specifically address someone's ability to understand information presented to them aurally. For example: "The court must assess the defendant's "capacity to hear" the charges against them."

Common error

Avoid using "capacity to hear" when you actually mean someone's willingness to pay attention. "Capacity" refers to the ability, while "willingness" refers to the desire or choice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "capacity to hear" functions as a noun phrase acting as the subject or object of a verb, or as part of a prepositional phrase. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in describing someone's potential or ability to perceive auditory information. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "capacity to hear" is a grammatically sound expression used to describe someone's ability to perceive and understand auditory information. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is valid and usable in written English. Its usage is somewhat formal, making it well-suited for legal, medical, or professional contexts, as shown in Ludwig's examples. While alternatives like "ability to listen" exist, "capacity to hear" emphasizes a more formal or technical assessment of auditory comprehension. Remember to consider the context and intended meaning to determine the most appropriate phrase, and ensure you're referring to ability rather than willingness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ability to listen

Replaces "capacity" with "ability", focusing on the general skill of listening.

hearing capability

Uses "capability" as a synonym for "capacity", emphasizing the physical aspect of hearing.

auditory capacity

Replaces "hearing" with "auditory", making it more technical.

potential to hear

Focuses on the possibility or likelihood of hearing something.

power of hearing

Highlights the strength or effectiveness of one's hearing.

aptitude for hearing

Emphasizes a natural talent or inclination towards hearing.

receptive to hearing

Indicates openness and willingness to listen and understand.

ability to understand

Shifts the focus from physical hearing to comprehension.

willingness to listen

Emphasizes the choice to pay attention and consider what is being said.

level of hearing

Refers to the degree or extent of auditory perception.

FAQs

What does "capacity to hear" mean?

The phrase "capacity to hear" refers to someone's ability to perceive and understand auditory information. It can be used in both a literal sense, referring to physical hearing ability, or a metaphorical sense, referring to the ability to understand information.

How can I use "capacity to hear" in a sentence?

You can use "capacity to hear" in a sentence to describe someone's physical or mental ability to understand spoken information. For example: "The doctor tested the patient's "capacity to hear" to determine the extent of hearing loss" or "The judge questioned the witness's "capacity to hear" and understand the legal proceedings".

Which is more appropriate, "ability to listen" or "capacity to hear"?

"Ability to listen" and "capacity to hear" are similar, but "capacity to hear" often implies a more formal or technical assessment of auditory comprehension. The phrase "ability to listen" is often interchangeable, but it may sometimes refer to paying attention or being receptive to ideas, rather than just the physical act of hearing.

What are some alternative ways to express "capacity to hear"?

Some alternative ways to express "capacity to hear" include "ability to listen", "hearing capability", or "auditory capacity". The best choice depends on the specific context and the level of formality required.