to hear

USAGE SUMMARY

"to hear" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to express the sense of perceiving a sound or listening to a message. For example, "I tried to listen closely to hear what he was saying."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That's unusual to hear.

The New York Times

We strained to hear.

The New Yorker

That's nice to hear.

The New York Times

Sorry to hear that.

The New York Times

They're important to hear.

The New York Times

We'd love to hear.

The New York Times

"Sorry to hear it".

The New Yorker

I'm waiting to hear".

The New Yorker

Glad to hear it.

The New York Times

"You expect to hear that".

The New York Times - Sports

Ariza pretended not to hear.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to hear" when you specifically want to emphasize the act of perceiving sound, understanding a message or receiving information auditorily. For example, "I went outside to hear the birds singing."

Common error

Avoid using "to hear" when you mean to actively pay attention to something. "To listen" implies intentional focus, while "to hear" simply means to perceive sound. For example, say "I want you to listen to me" instead of "I want you to hear me" if you want someone to pay attention.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "to hear" is to serve as the infinitive form of the verb, often used to express purpose, intention, or potential action. Ludwig AI confirms this phrase is correct and usable. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate it in contexts like expressing a desire to perceive sound or receive information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Science

6%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to hear" is a versatile infinitive phrase used to express the action of perceiving sound or receiving information. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used, especially in News & Media contexts. While "to hear" focuses on the act of perceiving, "to listen" implies a deliberate focus on auditory input. Remember to use "to hear" when emphasizing the reception of sound and avoid confusing it with "to listen", which suggests intentional engagement. The examples from Ludwig showcase the phrase's prevalence and variety in real-world writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to listen

Focuses more on the act of paying attention to sound, rather than just perceiving it.

to overhear

Suggests hearing something unintentionally.

to perceive audibly

More formal and emphasizes the sensory experience of hearing.

to be informed

Shifts the focus to receiving information rather than the act of hearing itself.

to take in

Emphasizes understanding and processing what is heard.

to get wind of

Informal and suggests hearing something through rumors or indirectly.

to learn

Focuses on gaining knowledge or information, which can be through hearing.

to eavesdrop

Implies listening secretly to a conversation.

to ascertain

Implies discovering something with certainty, potentially through hearing.

to catch

Informal way to say to understand something that someone is saying.

FAQs

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

You can use "to hear" to express perceiving a sound or receiving information. For instance, "It's good "good to hear" that you're doing well" or "I'm waiting "waiting to hear" from them soon".

What's the difference between "to hear" and "to listen"?

"To hear" implies the passive reception of sound, while "to listen" involves actively paying attention. You might "hear" background noise, but you "listen" to a lecture.

Which is correct, "I want to hear" or "I want to listen"?

Both are correct, but they have different meanings. "I want "I want to hear"" means you want to perceive a sound, while "I want "I want to listen"" means you want to pay attention to something.

What can I say instead of "sorry to hear that"?

Alternatives include "that's unfortunate", "I'm saddened by that", or "that's a pity", depending on the context and your level of formality.