hear of

phrase

1
: to be aware of the existence of
I've never heard of him.
2
: to entertain the idea
—used in the negative
wouldn't hear of it

Examples of hear of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
My first principle was to make the story as accessible as possible—so that someone who has never heard of Senator Joe Manchin could feel connected. — Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026 Growing up on an Israeli kibbutz, David Haskia had never heard of central Texas barbecue. — Jonathan Shikes, Denver Post, 7 Oct. 2026 Police heard of a possible third victim but could not locate the third body as of Saturday morning. — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026 El Volcancito made a list of the 41 best places in the United States to eat Mexican food, but many have never heard of it. — Eva Flowe october 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hear of

Word History

First Known Use

1584, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of hear of was in 1584

Rhymes for hear of

See All Rhymes for hear of

Browse Nearby Words

Hearn
hear of
hear oneself think
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hear of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hear%20of. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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