fully listening

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fully listening" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the act of paying complete attention to someone while they are speaking or conveying information. Example: "During the meeting, I made sure I was fully listening to my colleagues' ideas to understand their perspectives better."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

There's a true power to fully listening to employees.

Forbes

If you do, then you might not be fully listening, because you're strategizing while they're talking.

Huffington Post

"When you're having difficult conversations with people, if you want to be fully listening, that may be a hard thing for you to do but it's important to try".

Huffington Post

The latter can indicate you're not fully listening or taking the discussion seriously.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

I'm in a field where everyone needs someone to talk to — someone who will fully listen to them.

The New York Times

Where the panel's report was nuanced and aspirational, and showed that the panel had fully listened to what the public truly want, there is a distinct lack of clarity in the government's three-page summary and supporting documentation.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Significantly, those most likely to report positive impacts in all 15 areas were people who felt their views were fully listened to when the amount of the budget was set and who felt their views were fully included when their support plan was written.

The Guardian

"These comments all had a starkly common theme and included statements that Judge Irizarry was gratuitously rude and abrasive and demeaned lawyers, that she flew off the handle in a rage for no apparent reason and screamed at attorneys; that she was impatient and did not fully listen to attorneys' legal arguments, and did not have a good grasp of the legal issues presented to her," Ms. Hynes said.

The New York Times

Fully listen.

Forbes

"I will fully listen to and consider another's views before sharing my own.

Duke University

Level three listening is when we fully listen, but also pay attention to their body language and the underlying emotions.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To improve communication, make a conscious effort to practice "fully listening" during conversations, minimizing interruptions and distractions.

Common error

Avoid interrupting or formulating responses while someone is speaking, as it prevents you from "fully listening" and understanding their complete message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fully listening" functions as a present participle phrase, often used as part of a continuous verb tense or as a gerund. As shown by Ludwig, it modifies a noun or pronoun, describing the act of listening with complete attention.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

28%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fully listening" is a grammatically correct phrase that describes the act of paying complete and focused attention. While Ludwig indicates that the phrase is not as common as alternatives like "actively listening", it remains a valuable expression for emphasizing the depth and quality of attention. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it appears across various contexts, but most frequently in news, media, and wiki sources. When writing, use "fully listening" to highlight the importance of complete attentiveness in communication, making sure to avoid common pitfalls like interrupting or assuming understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Actively listening

Emphasizes engagement and participation in the listening process.

Attentively listening

Highlights the focus and care given to listening.

Completely attentive

Stresses total focus and lack of distraction.

Paying close attention

A more general way to describe careful listening.

Giving full attention

Similar to paying close attention but emphasizes dedication.

Being all ears

An idiomatic expression for being eager to listen.

Listening intently

Focuses on the intensity of the listening effort.

Hearing someone out

Implies allowing someone to finish speaking before reacting.

Being present

Focuses on the listener being there in the moment.

Engaged listening

Similar to actively listening but less common.

FAQs

How can I improve my ability to "fully listen"?

Practice mindfulness during conversations, focus on the speaker's words and body language, and avoid formulating your response until they have finished speaking. This helps you to be more present and "actively listening".

What does it mean to "fully listen"?

To "fully listen" means to pay complete attention to someone, understanding not only their words but also their emotions and the underlying message. It requires being present and engaged in the conversation.

What are the benefits of "fully listening" in a professional setting?

In a professional context, "fully listening" enhances communication, builds trust, and fosters better relationships with colleagues and clients. It also minimizes misunderstandings and improves problem-solving.

Is "fully listening" the same as "active listening"?

While similar, "fully listening" emphasizes complete attention and understanding, while "actively listening" often involves responding and engaging with the speaker to confirm understanding. Both are important for effective communication.