listen in

verb

listened in; listening in; listens in

intransitive verb

1
: to tune in to or monitor a broadcast
2
: to listen to a conversation without participating in it
especially : eavesdrop
listener-in
ˌli-sᵊn-ər-ˈin How to pronounce listen in (audio)
ˌlis-nər-
noun

Examples of listen in in a Sentence

it's not polite to listen in on other people's private conversations
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Lori listens in dumbfounded silence, keeping her eyes on the prize, and trying not to roll them when Julian makes a comment about the dearth of great women artists—the kind of remark that earned him a close brush with cancellation in the past. Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026 More than 600 people listened in the park. Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 29 Mar. 2026 The crowd attending Thursday's council meeting was so large, some had to sit in the lobby to listen in. Todd Feurer, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026 Teachers, students and parents at Heritage Elementary can listen in on the discussions by scanning a QR code to the podcast that’s displayed on posters throughout the school. Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for listen in

Word History

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of listen in was in 1905

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Listen in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/listen%20in. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

listen in

verb
1
: to listen to a broadcast
2
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