listen for
phrase
: to pay attention to sounds in order to hear (something expected)
We listened for (the sound of) his footsteps.
We saw lightning and listened for the thunder.
Examples of listen for in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Managers need to know what to listen for, what to avoid and where to send the employee next.
—
Seth Turner,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Give it a few taps and listen for a hollow sound as a last check.
—
Christine Fiorentino,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 June 2026
Ration food and water, listen for rescue calls and search for something near you to make noise.
—
ABC News,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for listen for
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Seth Turner,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Give it a few taps and listen for a hollow sound as a last check.
—
Christine Fiorentino,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 June 2026
Ration food and water, listen for rescue calls and search for something near you to make noise.
—
ABC News,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for listen for
Cite this Entry
“Listen for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/listen%20for. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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