Listen actively.

Meaning: This means to pay close attention to someone speaking and to show that you are engaged in the conversation by giving verbal or nonverbal feedback.

Choice of Words: Listen means to pay attention to someone speaking or to sounds. Actively means to take action or participate in something. When you put them together, "listen actively" means to pay attention and participate in a conversation by giving verbal or nonverbal feedback.

Alternative Expressions

Pay attention.

Meaning: This means to focus your mind on something and listen carefully. It's like saying, Listen carefully to what I'm saying.

Choice of Words: Pay means to give or provide something, and attention means to focus or direct one's thoughts. So when you put them together, it means to give your focus or concentration to something.

Listen up.

Meaning: This means to listen carefully and give your full attention to what someone is saying. It's like saying, Please pay attention to what I'm telling you.

Choice of Words: Listen means to hear and understand what someone is saying, and up means to move higher or rise. So when you put them together, it means to listen carefully and attentively.

Be all ears.

Meaning: This means to listen very carefully and attentively, as if your ears are the only part of you that is active. It's like saying, Give me your complete attention and listen to what I have to say.

Choice of Words: Be means to exist or to be in a certain state, all means complete or entire, and ears are the parts of the body we use to hear. So when you put them together, it means to give your full attention to listening.

Related Expressions