1 B1 neutral
To listen to someone until they have finished speaking, without interrupting.
"Before you say anything, just hear me out — I think you'll change your mind."
separable
hear out
B1 neutral separable transitive
To listen to someone fully and completely, allowing them to finish what they are saying without interruption.
In plain English
To let someone finish talking before you respond or say anything.
What does "hear out" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To hear someone all the way out (to the end).
Actually means
To let someone finish talking before you respond or say anything.
Usage tip
Often used as a request or plea: 'Just hear me out.' Implies that the listener may be reluctant but is being asked to give the speaker a fair chance. The person being listened to is placed between 'hear' and 'out' when using a pronoun ('hear me out') or after 'out' when using a noun.
Words that pair with "hear out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
me out him out her out just please before you decide
How to conjugate "hear out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
hear out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
hears out
he/she/it
Past simple
heard out
yesterday
Past participle
heard out
have + pp
-ing form
hearing out
continuous
Hear "hear out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "hear out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.