hear attentively

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hear attentively" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing the act of listening with focus and concentration, often in contexts such as lectures, conversations, or presentations. Example: "During the lecture, it was important for the students to hear attentively to grasp the complex concepts being discussed."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Reference

Social Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Listen attentively until you hear the music of your soul.

Huffington Post

Listen attentively, though, and you hear the psychic arrhythmia of someone who nowadays might be classified as bipolar, a woman given to emotional extremes who seems to settle for marriage to Ernest, an art dealer, precisely because he's the human equivalent of lithium.

The New York Times - Arts

So did Walter Lippmann's analysis of it when it arrived, this passage being said to have pleased the Pope especially: "No one who heard him attentively, or will read him now, can fail to realize that he was speaking a different language from that which is current and conventional.

The New Yorker

The king heard him attentively, and, though he admired his temper and courage, gave him no answer at that time; but, when he was with his intimate friends, rejoiced in his great good fortune, and esteemed himself very happy in this, and prayed to his god Arimanius, that all his enemies might be ever of the same mind with the Greeks, to abuse and expel the bravest men amongst them.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Be respectful of other people's opinions and be sure to hear them out attentively – just as you would wish for them to do for you.

WikiHow

The foreigners listen attentively, taking notes, sometimes shocked by what they hear.

The Guardian

"They watch your every gesture, read your every emotion, listen attentively to every word you say — until they hear the rustle of a bag of chips being opened".

The New Yorker

Listen attentively to Lord Masloch-Brown, as this column always does, and you'll hear a verbal tic.

The Guardian

He would listen attentively, and then we would debate.

The Guardian - Opinion

They listen attentively through headphones connected to computers.

The New York Times

Listen attentively and respond with questions.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When taking notes during a meeting or lecture, make sure to "hear attentively" to capture the most important details accurately.

Common error

Remember that "hear" is the passive reception of sound, while "listen" implies active engagement. Use "listen attentively" to emphasize focused and intentional engagement with the sound.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hear attentively" functions as a verb phrase, where "hear" is the verb and "attentively" is an adverb modifying the verb. It describes the manner in which the action of hearing is performed, emphasizing focus and concentration. Ludwig suggests using the more common phrase "listen attentively".

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hear attentively" is grammatically correct but less common than its counterpart ""listen attentively"". As indicated by Ludwig, it conveys the idea of actively focusing on and understanding sounds. Given the lack of real-world examples in Ludwig, it's advisable to use it judiciously, keeping in mind the context and the desired level of formality. Other alternatives such as "listen closely" or "pay close attention" might be more appropriate in many situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Listen closely

Emphasizes the act of paying close attention while listening, focusing on accuracy and detail.

Pay close attention

Highlights the importance of giving full focus to what is being heard.

Listen carefully

Stresses the need for caution and precision while listening.

Give your undivided attention

Implies offering complete and exclusive focus to the speaker or sound.

Lend an ear

Suggests offering one's attention to listen, often in a supportive context.

Be all ears

Indicates eagerness and readiness to listen intently.

Concentrate on listening

Focuses on the mental effort required to listen effectively.

Listen with intent

Emphasizes listening with a specific purpose or goal in mind.

Hang on every word

Suggests listening with rapt attention and admiration.

Take note

Implies listening with the intention of remembering important details.

FAQs

How can I use "hear attentively" in a sentence?

While less common, you can use "hear attentively" to emphasize actively trying to understand a sound or message. For example: "To truly appreciate the nuances of the music, one must "listen carefully" and "hear attentively"".

What does it mean to "hear attentively"?

To "hear attentively" means to not only perceive sounds but also to actively focus on and try to understand them. It implies a conscious effort to listen carefully and extract meaning from what is being heard.

Which is a more common phrase, "hear attentively" or "listen attentively"?

"Listen attentively" is generally more common and widely used than "hear attentively". While both are grammatically correct, "listen" is the active form of hearing, making it more suitable for describing focused attention.

What can I say instead of "hear attentively"?

You can use alternatives like "listen closely", "pay close attention", or ""listen carefully"" to convey a similar meaning of focused and intentional listening.