first time hearing

USAGE SUMMARY

'first time hearing' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing something that someone is encountering for the first time. For example, "I had a first time hearing of the rock band's new album yesterday and it was amazing!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

First time hearing about John Williams?

The New York Times

"This is our first time hearing music in the Egg".

The New York Times - Arts

First time hearing about the nonaccelerating inflation rate of unemployment, or Nairu?

The New York Times

"And I remember I said, 'I want to give my speech in French.' I don't know if that's my first time hearing French.

The New York Times

"I think it's my first time hearing government officials saying that," Shen Minggao, the chief China economist for Citibank in Hong Kong, said in a telephone interview.

The New York Times

My father's been telling us his Goodall anecdote for years, and she always acts like it's her first time hearing it.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

So, in case you didn't get it the first time, hear this: Suburbia is soulless, vacuous, downright insane!

The New York Times - Books

The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical application of an Internet-based support system for audiologists and their first-time hearing aid clients.

Internet Interventions

The overall average total score of 48.1 indicated a moderate degree of perceived handicap that is in line with unaided findings for first-time hearing aid users.

BMC Health Services Research

This score was consistent with the average score of 25.7 found for 112 first-time hearing aid users at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System in the SAI-WHAT hearing screening trial [ 45].

BMC Health Services Research

You stop hearing things that people are going to hear the first time they hear it.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "first time hearing" to emphasize the novelty or surprise of an auditory experience, or to highlight a significant first impression.

Common error

Avoid overusing "first time hearing" when simpler alternatives like "heard for the first time" or "new to me" might sound more natural in less emphatic contexts. For example, instead of saying, "It was my first time hearing about the company," consider, "I had never heard of the company before."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "first time hearing" functions as a noun phrase, often acting as a subject complement or an object in a sentence. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is correct and commonly used. Examples in Ludwig show it describing an initial auditory encounter or experience.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

82%

Science

9%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "first time hearing" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe an initial auditory experience. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media. While it effectively conveys novelty and initial impressions, consider context-appropriate alternatives for formality or emphasis, such as "hearing for the first time" or "initial auditory experience". Be mindful of potential overuse, and choose the most precise wording to suit the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hearing for the first time

Reorders the words while maintaining the core meaning but slightly shifts the emphasis to the action of hearing.

never heard before

Highlights the lack of prior experience with something audible, using a more direct and emphatic tone.

encountering for the first time

Replaces 'hearing' with 'encountering', broadening the context beyond auditory experiences to any kind of new exposure.

experiencing for the first time

Similar to 'encountering', but focuses on the subjective feeling of a new experience, instead of just an auditory experience.

a completely new sound to me

Emphasizes the novelty and personal aspect of the auditory experience.

discovering for the first time

Emphasizes the element of discovery or uncovering something previously unknown.

first exposure to

Uses a noun phrase to describe the initial contact with something, implying a process of being introduced.

new to my ears

Emphasizes the novelty specifically in the context of auditory information.

maiden hearing

Uses a more formal and literary tone to convey the sense of a first experience.

unfamiliar sound

Focuses on the auditory experience being novel or not previously known.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "first time hearing" to sound more formal?

You can use phrases such as "initial auditory experience", "first exposure to", or "maiden hearing" for a more formal tone.

What are some alternatives to "first time hearing" that emphasize surprise?

To emphasize surprise, consider using phrases like "I was astonished to "hear"..." or "I couldn't believe my ears when I "heard"...". These options highlight the unexpected nature of the sound.

Is it grammatically correct to say "first time hearing of"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to say "first time hearing of", as in "It was the "first time hearing" of his work". It indicates initial awareness about something.

What's the difference between "first time hearing" and "hearing for the first time"?

"First time hearing" functions as a noun phrase emphasizing the experience itself, while "hearing for the first time" is a verb phrase focusing on the action of hearing. The choice depends on which aspect you want to emphasize.