listen eagerly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'listen eagerly' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone's attitude when listening to someone else's words. For example: "The audience members listened eagerly as the speaker shared her story."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The kids in the back row sleep; the kids in the front row listen, eagerly and a little uncomprehendingly; and the teachers pray that they're getting through.

The New Yorker

Not really understanding the words, I listen eagerly for the names, which have an almost magical aura: Van Dijk, Robertson, Sadio Mane, Milner, Alexander-Arnold.

The New York Times

While the captain tells our neighbors about Mr. Portay's $90 degustation menu ("You know he was the sous-chef of Alain Ducasse at Le Louis XV in Monte Carlo"), we listen eagerly.

The New York Times - Arts

The donors listen eagerly.

Forbes

The Committee's questions were perhaps spurred by reports of unwanted collection of audio data from the likes of Amazon Echos and other devices that listen eagerly for the magic words that set them to work.

TechCrunch

Do not brag about your abilities or achievements and listen eagerly about what he has to say about himself.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

That evening, they listened eagerly to the Taliban's radio channels, which featured confused messages about someone named Bashir.

The New Yorker

The 12-year-old listened eagerly as the shebab taught him the way to hold a rocket-launcher, and how to dismantle a Kalashnikov.

The Guardian - Film

AUSTIN — The group of 40 people gathered at a popular burger and fish taco restaurant in San Antonio listened eagerly to the latest news about the anti-vaccine fight taking place in the Texas legislature.

The Washington Post

Yet this is where Erie has camped for 15 years, in part because of his close friendship with Hughie, the night clerk, a working stiff who listened eagerly to Erie's stories and helped to romanticise his marginal life.

The Guardian

Now, as waiters wearing bolo ties scurried about, the executives listened eagerly to Mr. Lay's descriptions of Enron's recent year of success, and the new successes that were within reach.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "listen eagerly" to effectively convey both attentiveness and enthusiasm when describing someone's reaction to hearing something.

Common error

Avoid using "listen eagerly" repeatedly in close proximity within your writing. Vary your phrasing by using synonyms such as "pay close attention" or "hang on every word" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "listen eagerly" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying the verb "listen" to specify how someone is listening. Ludwig AI shows this indicates an active and enthusiastic reception of information.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

17%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "listen eagerly" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to convey attentiveness combined with enthusiasm. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, it is advisable to use it judiciously to avoid repetition. Primarily found in "News & Media" sources, this phrase maintains a neutral register, making it appropriate for diverse contexts. Alternatives such as "pay close attention" or "hang on every word" can enrich your writing. Remember to use "listen eagerly" to precisely emphasize both the act of listening and the enthusiastic reception of information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

listen with interest

Expresses a general curiosity without the strong enthusiasm of "eagerly".

pay close attention

Focuses more on the act of concentrating than the enthusiasm.

hang on every word

Emphasizes the importance and captivation of the speaker's words.

be all ears

An idiom that directly expresses attentiveness and readiness to listen.

attend closely

Highlights the act of giving attention but lacks the enthusiasm.

take in every word

Focuses on comprehension and retention of the information.

concentrate intently

Stresses the mental effort involved in listening.

drink in every word

Emphasizes complete absorption and enjoyment of the information.

be captivated by

Highlights being charmed or influenced by the speaker and their words.

observe with great interest

Highlights more the observation than the pure auditory component.

FAQs

How can I use "listen eagerly" in a sentence?

You can use "listen eagerly" to describe someone's attentive and enthusiastic reception of information. For example: "The students "listened eagerly" to the guest speaker's presentation".

What are some alternatives to "listen eagerly"?

You can use alternatives like "pay close attention", "hang on every word", or "be all ears" to convey similar meanings depending on the specific nuance you want to express.

Is "listen eagerly" formal or informal?

"Listen eagerly" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The appropriateness depends more on the surrounding language and the overall tone of the piece.

Is it correct to say "listening eagerly"?

Yes, "listening eagerly" can be used as part of a continuous verb tense or participial phrase, for example, "She was "listening eagerly" to the radio broadcast".