“Listen” vs. “Listen To”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “listen” and “listen to”

  • "Listen" is simply the act of hearing, while "listen to" involves actively engaging with the sound or message being heard.
  • "Listen" does not necessarily involve responding or understanding, while "listen to" often involves interpreting and responding to what is being heard.
  • "Listen to" implies a willingness to engage and pay attention, while "listen" may be a passive or involuntary act.
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What is the definition of “listen” and “listen to”?

Listen
  • It means to give attention with the ears.
  • It is an action that involves hearing something.
  • It does not necessarily imply that the listener is actively engaging or responding to what they have heard.
Listen to
  • It means to actively pay attention to what is being said or heard.
  • It involves a willingness to understand or respond to the message being communicated.
  • It implies a level of engagement and focus that goes beyond simply hearing.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Listen” is the more popular variant on the web.
More popular
Listen
1,440,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. I listen for any sounds of footsteps outside my door.
  2. They listen intently for the sound of the train approaching.
  3. He listens for the alarm clock to wake him up in the morning.
Listen to
832,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. I always listen to my mom's advice, she's very wise.
  2. Can we please listen to my favorite podcast on the car ride home?
  3. It's important to listen to your friends when they're upset and offer support.
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