hearer

/ˈhɪərə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhɪrər/ (ame, ipa) · /-rə(r)/ (ame, mw)

hearer — noun

  • hearersingular
  • hearersplural

1. the person on the receiving end of spoken communication — the one who takes in w

1.名詞B2
釋義

the person on the receiving end of spoken communication — the one who takes in what someone else is saying, whether casually overhearing or listening with close attention

例句

Esi whispered so softly that hearers at the back caught only fragments of her story.

plural form: hearers

Father Okonkwo paused, giving his hearers a moment to absorb the weight of his words.

possessive: his hearers

同義詞
  • listener

    the everyday word; implies active, intentional attention

  • auditor

    very formal; used in legal, academic, or technical settings

  • audience member

    one person within a group attending a live event or performance

反義詞
  • speaker

    the person producing the spoken words that a hearer receives

  • talker

    informal counterpart to speaker; the one speaking rather than hearing

文法句型

hearer + of + noun phrase

possessive + hearer

用法筆記

Much rarer than 'listener' in everyday English. Typically reserved for formal, literary, or religious settings where the focus is on receiving a message through hearing. When talking about radio audiences or empathetic attention, use 'listener' instead.

常見錯誤

❌The radio station has thousands of hearers across the city.
✅The radio station has thousands of listeners across the city.
💡'listener' is the natural word for broadcast audiences; 'hearer' sounds out of place.
❌He was a kind hearer who always made people feel valued.
✅He was a kind listener who always made people feel valued.
💡'listener' implies empathy and understanding; 'hearer' only refers to the physical act of hearing.