hear him out

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hear him out" is correct and usable in written English; you can use it when you want to imply that someone should be given the opportunity to explain their side of the story or when you want to ask someone else to be patient and listen to what the other person has to say.
Example: "I know he can be difficult to get along with but please hear him out before you make a decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Were they willing to meet him and hear him out?

The New Yorker

Hear him out as he tells you that he can't take you to the beach.

The New Yorker

But I was a foreigner, and they were curious, so they said, let's hear him out, see who he is.

The New York Times

The DIYers rib him gently about banks and expenses, but hear him out and promise him their vote.

The Economist

If he offers to make you 20percentt, hear him out".

The New York Times - Sports

And they will at least hear him out patiently when he speaks out on secular topics on which he has some expertise.

The Economist

Cheney values Gingrich's opinion highly enough to hear him out on even so delicate a subject as the one that Gingrich had planned to broach on September 11th — the President's inability to communicate effectively.

The New Yorker

In a one-on-one meeting on Tuesday, Mr. Gates, who had pushed to make General McChrystal the commander in Afghanistan, pleaded with Mr. Obama to hear him out, an official said.

The New York Times

The author said that in return for Mr. Jobs's speaking at a News Corporation management retreat, Mr. Jobs got Rupert Murdoch, the chief executive, to "hear him out on Fox News".

The New York Times

So give it to him and hear him out," he wrote.

BBC

So let's hear him out, with the notion that you could skip his fund and buy some of his favorite stocks directly.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hear him out" to encourage someone to listen to another person's perspective, especially when there is a potential for disagreement or bias. It promotes fairness and understanding.

Common error

Don't use "hear him out" sarcastically or dismissively. Ensure you genuinely intend to listen and consider the speaker's perspective; otherwise, it can come across as insincere and damage your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "hear him out" functions as an imperative, urging the listener to give someone the opportunity to fully express their views. Ludwig AI confirms this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Wiki

12%

Science

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hear him out" is a grammatically sound and very common phrasal verb that urges someone to listen attentively and fairly to another person's perspective before making a judgment. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is both correct and usable in written English. Predominantly found in news and media, and wiki sources, its register is considered neutral to informal. It is important to use this phrase sincerely, intending to give genuine consideration to the speaker's viewpoint. Alternatives include "listen to him" and "give him a hearing", which offer slight variations in tone and formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

listen to him

This alternative is a more direct and simple way of saying "hear him out", focusing on the act of listening.

give him a hearing

This alternative is more formal and suggests a structured opportunity to present his case.

let him explain

This alternative emphasizes the opportunity for him to provide an explanation.

lend him your ear

This alternative is a more figurative and emphasizes attentiveness and empathy.

allow him to speak

This alternative focuses on granting permission for him to express himself.

consider his perspective

This alternative goes beyond just listening and suggests actively thinking about his viewpoint.

give him an opportunity to speak

This alternative is a more verbose and formal way to express giving him a chance to talk.

pay attention to what he says

This alternative highlights the importance of focusing on his words and message.

be patient and listen

This alternative emphasizes the need for patience while listening to him.

take his opinion into account

This alternative suggests considering his viewpoint when making a decision.

FAQs

How can I use "hear him out" in a sentence?

You can use "hear him out" to encourage someone to listen to another person's perspective, for example, "I know you disagree with him, but please "hear him out" before making a decision".

What is a more formal alternative to "hear him out"?

A more formal alternative is "give him a hearing", which suggests a structured opportunity to present a case. For example, "The committee agreed to give him a hearing to address the concerns".

What does it mean to "hear someone out"?

To ""hear him out"" means to listen to someone completely without interrupting, allowing them to fully explain their thoughts or perspective, even if you initially disagree.

Is "hear her out" an acceptable alternative to "hear him out"?

Yes, "hear her out" is a perfectly acceptable alternative. The choice between "hear him out" and "hear her out" depends on the gender of the person you are referring to.