listener

USAGE SUMMARY

The word listener is correct and usable for written English.
You can use it when you are referring to somebody who actively listens in a conversation, or somebody who is attending an event to observe and hear what is happening. Example sentence: The listener was attentive as the speaker shared his life story.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Music

Politics

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Cameron read out a number of text messages from listeners in the "listener breaking news" section of the show, which included "I let my new chickens out this morning" and "On my way to pick up my new Mini".

The Guardian

Listener emails, nonsense rhymes, the occasional double entendre and a bit of comedy banter with the newsreader?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

A freelance writer and broadcaster, Hay, a quiet, well-spoken woman with the ability to ask penetrating questions, set up the organisation (originally called Voice of the Listener) in 1983, in response to the first threat to turn Radio 4 into a news and current affairs network.

The Guardian

He was, Bercow said, a "good speaker, but an even better listener".

The Guardian

Responding to a complaint from a listener about the lack of coverage of HSBC's tax affairs across Global's many stations, Ofcom's radio licensing manager Jon Heasman wrote in an email: "Global confirmed that it had advised all of its radio stations to drop the HSBC story from around 8.45am onwards on 9 February.

The Guardian

Psychology has shown that certain cues in speech, known as paralinguistic elements, are more important than others when it comes to generating particular emotions in the listener.

The Guardian

Reid began to get poems published in literary magazines such as the Listener, Ian Hamilton's New Review and the New Statesman, where Martin Amis was by this time the literary editor.

The Guardian

Hayden Thorpe (vocalist, Wild Beasts) Luke Abbott Holkham Drones "This has everything I felt was missing in most recent electronic music: it sounds old (in a good way); it doesn't sound like it was made on a laptop and conjures emotion in the listener.

The Guardian - Music

At its best, his voice whispers to the listener about mortality and eternity.

The Guardian - Music

It appears the editorial guidelines have got everything covered apart from the possibility that the prime minister might turn up to read listener dedications".

The Guardian

But what about you, the listener – does it ruin it for you?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider context: "listener" is most effective when emphasizing the role of the individual as someone who is meant to hear and understand something.

Common error

Avoid using "listener" interchangeably with "audience" in contexts where the group dynamic is more significant than individual reception. "Listener" emphasizes a one-on-one connection, while "audience" describes a collective.

Linguistic Context

The word "listener" functions primarily as a noun, designating an individual who is in the act of listening. This can be in various contexts, from attending a performance to engaging in a conversation. According to Ludwig AI, it’s grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Music

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "listener" functions as a noun, denoting an individual who actively receives and processes auditory information. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It is versatile in register, appearing across formal news reports, informal conversations, and academic discussions. Common contexts include news and media, music, and formal business settings. To enhance clarity, consider alternatives like "audience member" or "hearer" depending on the specific nuance required. When using "listener", ensure it accurately reflects the active role of the individual in engaging with the auditory information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

audience member

Focuses on being part of a larger group present at a performance or event.

hearer

Emphasizes the act of perceiving sound, sometimes without necessarily understanding or paying attention.

observer

Highlights the act of watching and taking note of something, which may or may not involve active listening.

recipient of information

Focuses on receiving data and details rather than necessarily focusing on audible communication.

attentive individual

Emphasizes a state of mind receptive to receiving information, be it speech or sound.

concentrating party

Highlights the act of focusing to understand the speaker or source

the receiving end

Emphasizes the role of being on the side that accepts or is affected by communication.

the intended recipient

Focuses on the communication direction being oriented specifically toward him/her

eavesdropper

Implies secretly hearing or recording

spectator

Emphasizes the role of watching or observing rather than actively listening.

FAQs

How can I use "listener" in a sentence?

You can use "listener" to describe someone who is actively hearing and processing information, as in "The "listener" was captivated by the speaker's story".

What is a good alternative to "listener"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "listener" could include "audience member", "hearer", or "observer". Each carries a slightly different nuance.

When is it appropriate to use "listener" instead of "hearer"?

"Listener" is best used when emphasizing active engagement and understanding, whereas "hearer" simply implies the act of perceiving sound. For example, someone actively following a lecture is a "listener", while someone merely within earshot is a "hearer".

Can "listener" also refer to a device?

While primarily referring to a person, "listener" can sometimes describe a function or piece of code that 'listens' for specific events in programming, acting as an event handler. The term is less common in that context compared to its use referring to humans.