listener

noun

lis·​ten·​er ˈli-sᵊn-ər How to pronounce listener (audio)
ˈlis-nər
plural listeners
: one who listens to someone or something
a radio program with many listeners
a friend who's a good listener [=who listens attentively and sympathetically]
Fanny, being always a very courteous listener, and often the only listener at hand, came in for the complaints and distresses of most of them.Jane Austen
The average concertgoer drifts in and out of the music, often losing the thread. The listener can't always hear the music in the music, and tends to notice only the most obvious (usually the loudest) events.David Schiff

Examples of listener in a Sentence

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.
Do our listeners know about your book? Ben Smith, semafor.com, 3 Apr. 2026 The radio listener is the big loser here. Mac Engel april 2, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 2026 Some listeners might skip ahead. Boutayna Chokrane, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026 The entertainment world has been reeling from the Mills news this week, which came out the blue, blindsiding his colleagues and listeners. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 1 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for listener

Word History

First Known Use

1572, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of listener was in 1572

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Cite this Entry

“Listener.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/listener. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

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