listen for

Question

Keep your radio or TV on and listen for/to the latest weather reports, warnings and advice.

I presume for and to both work here, but it's hard for me to paraphrase "listen for." How would you reword it in other words? Thanks.

Philip · Accepted Answer

AngliholicKeep your radio or TV on and listen for/to the latest weather reports, warnings and advice.

I presume for and to both work here, but it's hard for me to paraphrase "listen for." How would you reword it in other words? Thanks.

An easy way to differentiate: to listen 'for' something means to be ready to listen 'to' it when it comes up.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Keep your radio or TV on and listen for/to the latest weather reports, warnings and advice.

I presume for and to both work here, but it's hard for me to paraphrase "listen for." How would you reword it in other words?

Listen to the weather report. When the weather report comes on, listen to it.

Listen for the weather report. There's a lot of other stuff on the radio/TV. Listen to it all so that, when the weather report comes on, you will not miss it.

Here's another example. I'm sitting beside the phone. I'm listening for a very important phone call. I don't want to miss it.

Best wishes, Clive

Angliholic · Answer

Thanks, Clive and Philip.

listen for

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