Meanings
unlistening1
- not comparableNot listening.
The voices of his mother and sisters, raised at times in eagerness or expectation of the future, fell upon his unlistening ears.
1891, Bret Harte, chapter 4, in A First Family of Tasajara2 more examples
"Did you know, beloved, at the last, in that intolerable heat, in that moment of supreme anguish, that he is unlistening, unhelpful as the stars, that you cried not to him?"
1904, William Henry Hudson, Green Mansions, chapter XXBoth have something important to say, but are hyperconscious of an unlistening world. They are disappointed, incredulous at humanity’s deafness.
2012 April 15, Jeremy Denk, "‘The Great Animal Orchestra,’ by Bernie Krause" (book review), New York Times (retrieved 22 June 2015)Synonyms: ignoring, indifferent, unheedful
unlistening2
- gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of unlisten
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveNot listening.
Origin
Cite this entry
unlistening. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unlistening
“unlistening.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unlistening. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “unlistening,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unlistening.
Source: unlistening on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.