"She heard a loud crash coming from the kitchen while she was asleep in her bedroom."
In plain English: To hear means for your ears to pick up sounds from somewhere nearby.
"I could hear the birds singing outside my window this morning."
Usage: Use "hear" when you physically perceive sound waves entering your ears, such as hearing a doorbell ring or music playing nearby. It describes the passive act of receiving auditory input rather than actively listening with intent.
Example Sentences
"I could hear the birds singing outside my window this morning."verb
"I can hear birds singing outside my window."verb
"Please turn down the music so I can hear you better."verb
"Have you heard any news about the upcoming meeting?"verb
The word "hear" comes from Old English, where it originally meant to have a sharp ear. This ancient root describes the physical ability to detect sound rather than just the modern act of listening.