strain to hear

USAGE SUMMARY

"strain to hear" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to express the effort of attempting to listen to something. For example, "I strained to hear the quiet conversation at the back of the room."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

They are confused and strain to hear.

The New York Times

When Susanna and Marcellina trade insults, one shouldn't have to strain to hear Susanna's responses.

The New York Times - Arts

The untrained ear might strain to hear what's new in all this.

The Guardian - Music

Purists beware: you often have to strain to hear the original Mozart.

The Guardian - Music

You have to strain to hear the words because they tail off into sighs.

The Guardian - Music

He looked up now, but we still had to strain to hear him.

The Guardian - Books

Once inside, most strain to hear the roll call of the dead.

The Guardian

His speech is so soft that one has to strain to hear it.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

We strained to hear.

The New Yorker

I strained to hear the Chinese translation.

The New York Times

Straining to hear, Mr Prescott bent down.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "strain to hear" when you want to emphasize the effort or difficulty involved in listening, often due to a weak sound source or noisy environment. For example, "I had to "strain to hear" what she was whispering because of the loud music."

Common error

Avoid using "strain to hear" when the environment is already quiet and the sound source is clear. It implies a struggle that wouldn't be present in such a setting. Instead, simply state that you heard something.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "strain to hear" typically functions as a verb phrase, indicating an effort or difficulty in perceiving auditory information. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and expresses the act of attempting to listen attentively. Ludwig's examples show its use in various contexts where sounds are faint or obscured.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

16%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "strain to hear" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase that describes the effort made to listen when sounds are faint or difficult to perceive. Ludwig AI validates this, confirming its appropriateness in various contexts. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media sources, reflecting its general applicability. While the phrase carries a neutral tone, its usage clearly indicates an attempt to discern auditory information that requires extra focus. When using the phrase, ensure that the context suggests a genuine difficulty in hearing; otherwise, consider simpler alternatives. Also, don't forget to conjugate properly the verb and select the correct tense in accordance to the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

struggle to hear

Emphasizes the difficulty experienced when trying to listen.

have difficulty hearing

States the problem of hearing clearly.

try to make out

Focuses on the effort to discern or understand a sound.

listen closely

Highlights the careful attention given to the sound.

listen intently

Highlights the focus and concentration required to hear something.

concentrate on the sound

Focuses on the effort of mental focus to perceive a sound.

prick up one's ears

Implies a sudden and alert attempt to hear something.

cup one's hand to one's ear

Describes a physical action taken to improve hearing.

be hard of hearing

Indicates a mild hearing impairment.

eavesdrop

Suggests secretly listening to a conversation.

FAQs

How to use "strain to hear" in a sentence?

You can use "strain to hear" to describe the effort someone makes to perceive a faint or distant sound, like in "I had to "strain to hear" the speaker due to the poor acoustics."

What can I say instead of "strain to hear"?

You can use alternatives like "struggle to hear", "try to make out", or "listen intently" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "strain to hear" or "strained to hear"?

"Strain to hear" is the infinitive form, used after auxiliary verbs (e.g., had to, need to, will). "Strained to hear" is the past tense form, used to describe a completed action in the past (e.g., "I strained to hear what they said.").

What's the difference between "strain to hear" and "try to hear"?

"Strain to hear" emphasizes the effort and difficulty involved in listening, whereas "try to hear" simply indicates an attempt to listen, without necessarily implying difficulty.