hearing
hearing — adjective
- hearingpositive
- more hearingcomparative
- most hearingsuperlative
1. describes a person who can perceive sounds naturally through their ears, especia
describes a person who can perceive sounds naturally through their ears, especially when contrasted with someone who is deaf or hard of hearing.
The school provides both hearing and deaf students with sign language classes.
contrasting adjectives: hearing vs. deaf
Emma grew up in a hearing family but learned sign language at college.
Tamar grew up in a hearing family and never met a deaf person until college.
The theater offers special performances for both hearing and deaf audiences.
- deaf
the standard opposite — unable to hear at all or severely hard of hearing
- hard of hearing
less total than 'deaf'; describes someone with partial hearing loss
文法句型
hearing + noun
the hearing / hearing + people
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively attributively before a noun (hearing person, hearing child). Unlike related adjectives such as 'deaf', 'hearing' does not commonly appear in predicative position ('He is hearing' sounds unnatural).
常見錯誤
hearing — noun
- hearingsingular
- hearingsplural
1. a formal meeting before a judge, committee, or government body where facts about
a formal meeting before a judge, committee, or government body where facts about a dispute, complaint, or proposed action are presented so that a decision can be reached.
The city council held a public hearing about the new parking rules.
collocation: public hearing
Yael attended the court hearing where the judge reviewed the evidence.
collocation: court hearing
Many neighbors went to the town hearing to share their worries about the new road.
Christopher testified at the parole hearing on behalf of the victim's family.
- trial
a specific type of hearing in a court where guilt or innocence is decided, with stricter rules of evidence
- inquest
a hearing to investigate the cause of a sudden or suspicious death
- proceeding
a broader term for any formal legal or official action, not necessarily involving oral testimony
文法句型
a + hearing
hold + a hearing
at + a hearing
用法筆記
Frequently modified by the type of issue or body involved (public hearing, court hearing, disciplinary hearing, preliminary hearing). Not used for informal conversations — 'hearing' always implies a structured, agenda-driven proceeding.
常見錯誤
2. an opportunity for someone to explain their position, defend their actions, or e
an opportunity for someone to explain their position, defend their actions, or express an opinion before a decision affecting them is made.
Before firing anyone, the manager gave each employee a fair hearing.
collocation: fair hearing
The committee promised the students a hearing to discuss their concerns.
pattern: give + someone + a hearing
Rafael felt he never got a fair hearing from his supervisor.
The protesters demanded a hearing before the board of directors.
文法句型
give + someone + a hearing
get + a hearing
fair hearing
用法筆記
Almost always used with 'fair' as a modifier (fair hearing), or with verbs like 'give', 'get', 'receive', 'demand'. Unlike noun sense 1 (OFFICIAL MEETING), this sense does not describe a formal legal event — it describes the abstract concept of being listened to fairly.
常見錯誤
3. the natural sense that allows people and animals to perceive sounds with their e
the natural sense that allows people and animals to perceive sounds with their ears.
Grandpa's hearing has gotten worse, so he wears a hearing aid.
collocation: hearing aid
Loud music at concerts can damage your hearing over time.
pattern: damage + one's hearing
The doctor tested the baby's hearing shortly after she was born.
Kwame's hearing is so sharp that he can hear birds from far away.
Protecting your hearing is important when you work near loud machines.
- auditory perception
technical term used in medical or scientific contexts; too formal for everyday speech
- deafness
the state of being unable to hear; the medical opposite of hearing ability
文法句型
someone's + hearing
hearing + noun (aid, loss, test)
用法筆記
Frequently appears in compounds and collocations related to health (hearing loss, hearing test, hearing aid, hearing impairment). Unlike 'listening', 'hearing' refers to the passive physical ability, not the active, intentional act of paying attention to sounds.
常見錯誤
4. the distance at which it is possible to hear what someone says or a sound that s
the distance at which it is possible to hear what someone says or a sound that something makes.
Stay within hearing distance so I can call you when dinner is ready.
collocation: hearing distance
The children whispered secrets just out of their mother's hearing.
pattern: out of + someone's + hearing
Otis moved closer until he was within hearing of the conversation.
Henry warned his brother not to joke about the matter within their mother's hearing.
- earshot
exact synonym; 'earshot' is slightly more common in everyday speech, while 'hearing' in this sense is more often found in fixed phrases like 'within hearing'
文法句型
within + hearing
out of + hearing
within hearing of
用法筆記
Occurs almost exclusively in fixed prepositional phrases — 'within hearing', 'out of hearing', 'in someone's hearing', 'within hearing of'. It is not used as a standalone concrete noun ('the hearing of the room is ten meters'). Distinguish from noun sense 3 (ABILITY TO HEAR): 'hearing' as earshot refers to a spatial range, not a physical capability.