lent an ear
Gave focused attention
Lent an ear is the past tense of lend an ear, meaning to listen attentively or sympathetically to someone.
The phrase suggests giving your attention as a kind of loan—temporary but generous: She lent an ear while I vented about work.
It often implies patience or compassion rather than casual hearing.
- hearPerceive by ear
- empathizeFeel what others feel
- heart to heartCandid intimate discussion
- took noticeBecame attentive to something
- listenPerceive sound attentively
pay attention · active listening · console · heed · respond · validate · converse · comfort · support · confide · open up · attend · care · vent · sound off · express · engage · discuss
lent an eartuned out
Ceased to pay attention
ignored · zoned out · spaced out · glazed over · dismissed
lent an earshut out
Prevent all scoring
dismissed · brushed off · rebuffed · disregarded · interrupted
lend, lent, lends, lending, lender, lenders, ear, ears, eared