heard
heard
Pronunciation
Here is the phonetic spelling and a detailed breakdown of the word heard.
Phonetic Spelling
The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) spelling for "heard" is:
/hɜrd/
Syllable Breakdown (1 Syllable): heard
/h/: The initial sound is a voiceless glottal fricative, made by pushing air from the throat, as in the word hat.
/ɜr/: This is an r-colored vowel. It is the central vowel sound found in words like bird, fur, and word.
/d/: The final sound is a voiced alveolar plosive, made by tapping the tip of the tongue against the ridge behind the top teeth, as in the word dog.
Word Form Variations
"Heard" is the simple past and past participle form of the verb "to hear." The primary forms of the verb are:
Infinitive: to hear
Simple Present: hear / hears
Present Participle / Gerund: hearing
Simple Past: heard
Past Participle: heard
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
(Simple Past & Past Participle of 'hear') To have perceived a sound, noise, or spoken words with the ears at a point in the past.
Synonyms: listened to, perceived, overheard, apprehended
Antonyms: ignored, tuned out, misheard, was deaf to
(Simple Past & Past Participle of 'hear') To have been told or made aware of information, news, or a rumor.
Synonyms: learned, discovered, was informed, found out, understood
Antonyms: was ignorant of, remained unaware, was kept in the dark
(Simple Past & Past Participle of 'hear') To have formally listened to and considered a case, testimony, or argument, as in a legal or official setting.
Synonyms: adjudicated, tried, considered, reviewed
Antonyms: dismissed, disregarded, overlooked
Adjective
Describing a sound, statement, or piece of information that has been audibly perceived or acknowledged.
Synonyms: noted, perceived, acknowledged, mentioned
Antonyms: unheard, unstated, silent, inaudible
Examples of Use
The word heard is commonly used across many contexts, from formal literature to everyday conversation. Here are several real-world examples of its use.
In Literature 📚
In literature, heard is often used to describe a pivotal moment of perception or the start of a significant event.
A famous example is in Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Concord Hymn," which describes the first shot of the American Revolution as "the shot heard round the world." This phrase has since become an idiom for any event that commands global attention. (Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Concord Hymn")
In children's literature, it can signify listening and belief, as when Horton the Elephant exclaims, "I heard it! I heard it! I heard it, I tell you! I heard it right here!" (Dr. Seuss, Horton Hears a Who!)
In News and Publications 📰
Journalism frequently uses heard in a formal sense, especially when reporting on legal proceedings, legislative sessions, or official statements.
When covering a government hearing, a report might state: "Lawmakers heard testimony on Thursday from the leaders of a new group aiming to build a third major political party." (The Associated Press, August 2024)
It's also used to report on sounds or events, such as: "A loud explosion was heard by residents across three counties late Tuesday night, prompting dozens of calls to emergency services."
In Entertainment 🎬
In music, film, and television, heard appears in iconic titles, lyrics, and dialogue, often relating to rumors, commands, or revelations.
The title and central lyric of a classic Motown song is "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," referring to learning information via rumors. (Marvin Gaye)
In countless movies and TV shows, a character will issue a firm command and reinforce it by saying, "You heard me," to eliminate any doubt.
In Public Discourse 🗣️
In everyday conversation and formal proceedings, heard is essential for exchanging information and conducting business.
One of the most common questions used to start a conversation about current events is simply, "Have you heard the news?"
In legal or parliamentary procedure, a judge or chairperson might state, "All arguments having been heard, this court is now in recess," to signify the end of a phase of proceedings.
10 Famous Quotes Using Heard
By the rude bridge that arched the flood, their flag to April’s breeze unfurled, here once the embattled farmers stood and fired the shot heard round the world. (Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Concord Hymn")
I heard it through the grapevine, not much longer would you be mine. (Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, "I Heard It Through the Grapevine")
I heard a Fly buzz—when I died. (Emily Dickinson)
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” (The Bible, Isaiah 6:8)
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each. (T.S. Eliot, "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock")
The music in my heart I bore, long after it was heard no more. (William Wordsworth, "The Solitary Reaper")
I heard it, I tell you! There is a person on that speck! (Dr. Seuss, Horton Hears a Who!)
I have heard of your paintings too, well enough; God has given you one face, and you make yourselves another. (William Shakespeare, Hamlet)
We heard his sighs, we saw his tears, we were with him in his solitude. (William Lloyd Garrison, Eulogy on Charles Follen)
It has been said that a person who has never heard an owl hoot has never lived. (L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Windy Poplars)
Etymology
The story of "heard" is really the story of its root word, hear, which has an incredibly ancient history stretching back thousands of years.
The Deepest Roots: Paying Attention
The word's journey begins with a reconstructed prehistoric word from a language called Proto-Indo-European, spoken about 5,000 years ago. The root word was something like *kous-, which didn't just mean "to hear," but had a broader meaning of "to perceive" or "to pay attention." This makes sense, as hearing is a primary way we pay attention to the world around us.
The Germanic Shift: A Familiar Sound
As languages evolved, this ancient root entered Proto-Germanic, the ancestor of English, German, and Dutch. It changed into the word *hausjaną. This is where it started to sound more familiar to our modern ears and became the direct ancestor of the German word hören and the Dutch horen.
Arrival in Old English: The First "Heard"
The word was brought to Britain by Anglo-Saxon tribes, and in Old English, it became hīeran (pronounced roughly "hee-eh-ran"). The meaning was now firmly "to hear" or "to listen," but it also carried the meaning of "to obey," because hearing a command was linked to obeying it.
The first known use of the word in its past tense form dates back to the earliest Old English texts, around the 7th century. It appeared as hīerde (pronounced "heer-deh"). This is the direct, recognizable ancestor of our modern word "heard."
Over the next thousand years, as Old English evolved into Middle and then Modern English, the spelling and pronunciation shifted slightly, but the core word remained remarkably stable. The "d" sound at the end to mark the past tense has been part of the word for well over 1,300 years, which is why it's an "irregular" verb today—it's not following a modern rule, but rather preserving an ancient one.
In short, "heard" began as a general word for "paying attention," became a specific word for "listening" in early Germanic languages, and has kept its ancient form almost perfectly intact since the time of the Anglo-Saxons.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Heard
Phrases and Idioms with "Heard" 🗣️
Heard it through the grapevine
To learn about something through rumors, gossip, or informal conversation rather than an official source.The shot heard 'round the world
A phrase describing a significant event that has a major, far-reaching impact and captures global attention.You could have heard a pin drop
An expression used to describe a situation that is extremely quiet, usually because people are shocked, captivated, or waiting in tense anticipation.Haven't heard the last of it
An idiom meaning that a problem, argument, or situation is not finished and will continue to cause trouble or have further consequences.Heard it all before
A phrase expressing skepticism, boredom, or dismissal of what someone is saying because it's a familiar story, excuse, or argument.You heard it here first
A common expression used by someone sharing new or exclusive information to emphasize that they are the original source.Heard you loud and clear
A phrase used to confirm that a message or instruction has been received and is perfectly understood, leaving no room for doubt.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of eagle from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
