The word hear means to perceive sound or receive information through the ear. One synonym for hear is listen, which implies actively paying attention to sounds or speech. Another synonym is receive, which denotes the act of being made aware of something by way of one's hearing. To catch, detect, and discern are also synonyms for hear. They suggest the ability to pick up on subtle or faint sounds. To heed means to pay attention to what one hears, while to overhear implies accidentally hearing a conversation or information not meant for one's ears. Finally, to learn or be informed are synonyms for hear, as hearing often leads to new knowledge or understanding.