What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
hearkening
Example
The students were hearkening to the teacher's instructions. [hearkening: verb]
Example
He advised his son to hearken to his mother's words. [hearken: verb]
hark
Example
Hark! I hear the sound of the approaching train. [hark: interjection]
Example
The dog harked at the sound of the doorbell. [harked: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Hark is more commonly used than hearkening in modern English, especially in literature and poetry.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between hearkening and hark?
Hark is considered more formal and archaic than hearkening, making it more suitable for use in formal writing or speech.
