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To listen in is to listen to what someone is saying, especially secretly.
Examples of use:
1. You shouldn't listen in on other people's private telephone calls.
2. I think someone is listening in on our conversation.
3. When I was a teenager my mum used to listen in on my telephone conversations.
To listen in is also to listen to a radio broadcast.
Examples of use:
1. Portland are on the radio tomorrow. Listen in at 9pm if you want to hear them!
2. More than five million people listened in to the new radio programme.
| infinitive | listen in |
| present simple | listen in and listens in |
| -ing form | listening in |
| past simple | listened in |
| past participle | listened in |
Can you think of any ways to use the phrasal verb 'listen in' in a sentence?
Do you think it's impolite to listen in on other people's conversations?
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About Angela Boothroyd
