hear

To notice a sound with your ears.

• Can you hear the music?
• I heard a dog barking outside.
• We could hardly hear her quiet voice.

How to use it: hear someone/something do something (I heard the door close.); hear someone/something doing something (She heard someone knocking upstairs.)

Similar words: perceive

Common phrases: hear a sound, hear someone sing, hear a voice, can hear something

To receive a message, letter, or call from someone.

• Did you hear from Tom?
• We have not heard from her since Monday.
• I finally heard back from the company yesterday.

How to use it: hear from someone (Have you heard from your sister lately?); hear back from someone (I hope to hear back from the school soon.)

Similar words: get word from, receive a message from

Common phrases: hear from someone, hope to hear, never hear back

To listen kindly to a request and agree to help.

• Please hear our plea for mercy.
• The king heard her request and freed her son.
• They prayed that God would hear their prayers.

Similar words: heed, grant

Opposites: reject

Common phrases: hear a prayer, hear a plea, hear our request