deaf

/def/ (bre, ipa) · /def/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdef dialectal ˈdēf/ (ame, mw)

deaf — adjective

  • deafpositive
  • deafercomparative
  • deafestsuperlative

1. not able to hear sounds, either completely or to a significant degree

1.形容詞A2
釋義

not able to hear sounds, either completely or to a significant degree

例句

The school installed a special alarm system for Noor, who was born deaf.

passive: born deaf

Christopher's grandmother has grown increasingly deaf and now uses hearing aids.

collocation: increasingly deaf / hearing aids

同義詞
  • hard of hearing

    milder and often preferred; suggests partial rather than total hearing loss

  • hearing-impaired

    formal or clinical term; some in the Deaf community consider it less respectful than deaf

反義詞
  • hearing

    able to hear sounds normally

常見錯誤

❌My grandmother is deaf to the radio.
✅My grandmother is deaf.
💡Being deaf to something means refusing to listen (figurative), not being physically unable to hear it.

2. not willing to pay attention to what someone says or to consider their requests,

2.形容詞B2
釋義

not willing to pay attention to what someone says or to consider their requests, opinions, or needs

例句

Ramón complained about the noise, but his landlord was deaf to his requests.

pattern: deaf to + requests

Folake's manager remained deaf to the team's concerns about the new schedule.

同義詞
  • oblivious

    implies unawareness rather than deliberate refusal; less intentional than deaf to

  • indifferent

    focuses on lack of concern or interest, not on refusal to listen

  • unresponsive

    describes the result (no reaction) rather than the attitude (refusal to listen)

反義詞
  • receptive

    willing to listen and consider new ideas or requests

  • attentive

    actively listening and paying close attention

文法句型

deaf to + noun phrase

用法筆記

Frequently followed by the preposition 'to' and a noun phrase referring to the argument, request, or concern being ignored. 'Deaf to reason' and 'deaf to pleas' are common collocations.

常見錯誤

❌The manager was deaf for our complaints.
✅The manager was deaf to our complaints.
💡The correct preposition is 'to', not 'for'.
❌She was deaf of his warning.
✅She was deaf to his warning.
💡Use 'to', not 'of'.

deaf — noun