Hearing vs. Listening — What's the Difference?

Hearing, or auditory perception, is the ability to perceive sounds by detecting vibrations, changes in the pressure of the surrounding medium through time, through an organ such as the ear. The academic field concerned with hearing is auditory science.

To listen is to give attention to sound or action. When listening, one is hearing what others are saying, and trying to understand what it means.

The sense by which sound is perceived; the capacity to hear.

To make an effort to hear something

Range of audibility; earshot.

To pay attention; heed

An opportunity to be heard.

An act of listening

A legal proceeding in which evidence is taken and arguments are given as the basis for a decision to be issued, either on some preliminary matter or on the merits of the case.

Of something or someone that listens.

A session, as of an investigatory committee or a grand jury, at which testimony is taken from witnesses.

Of something that is used in order to hear or to improve the ability to hear.

Able to hear

Of an action that is performed with caution and attention to sounds.

Able to hear, as opposed to deaf.

Present participle of listen

(uncountable) The sense used to perceive sound.

Action of the verb listening

(countable) The act by which something is heard.

An educational exercise involving listening

(uncountable) A proceeding at which discussions are heard.

Skill or ability of perceiving spoken language.

A legal procedure done before a judge, without a jury, as with an evidentiary hearing.

The act of hearing attentively.

A scolding.

The act of hearing attentively;

Present participle of hear

Attending to or alert for sound;

The act or power of perceiving sound; perception of sound; the faculty or sense by which sound is perceived; as, my hearing is good.

Attention to what is delivered; opportunity to be heard; audience; as, I could not obtain a hearing.

A listening to facts and evidence, for the sake of adjudication; a session of a court for considering proofs and determining issues.

Extent within which sound may be heard; sound; earshot.

(law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence

An opportunity to state your case and be heard;

The range within which a voice can be heard;

The act of hearing attentively;

A session (of a committee or grand jury) in which witnesses are called and testimony is taken;

The ability to hear; the auditory faculty;

Able to perceive sound