A direct command telling someone to pay close attention right now.
Stop what you're doing and pay attention to what I'm about to say.
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
Used as an imperative to tell a group or person to pay immediate attention to what is about to be said.
"Listen up, everyone — the schedule has changed and we need to leave an hour earlier."
Listen up, maggots. You are not special.
— Fight Club (film, 1999), spoken by Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt)
Used informally to preface an important or serious piece of information, even in one-on-one conversation.
"Listen up, because I'm only going to explain this once."
To direct your listening upward — 'up' adds urgency and directionality, as if raising your attention.
Stop what you're doing and pay attention to what I'm about to say.
Almost always used as an imperative. Common in American English, military contexts, classrooms, and sports coaching. Can sound bossy or authoritative; rarely used in formal written English.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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