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hearken

[hahr-kuhn] / ˈhɑr kən /


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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For Jane Williams, executive director of the nonprofit California Communities Against Toxics, the copious amounts of ash and rubble hearken back to the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center.

From Los Angeles Times Jan. 30, 2025

It sounded strange, like a song out of time — Melanie said she intended it to hearken to the 1930s — sung with what could now be called a warbling “indie girl voice.”

From New York Times Jan. 24, 2024

I'd thought that the sudden Scorsese renaissance was a case of the former: his movies are well-shot, well-acted, well-directed, and hearken back to beloved filmmaking tropes of the New Hollywood era.

From Salon Mar. 13, 2021

Designer Justin Kingsley said the creative team wanted to hearken back to the 1976 Montreal Olympics and Expo 67.

From Seattle Times Jan. 14, 2021

“Octavian,” said he, “have any voices presented themselves to you — speaking in remote quarters — which you might not, in other seasons, hearken to?”

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson

Riley’s work hearkens to Krautrock and what would be coming in post-rock.

From New York Times Mar. 6, 2024

“True Detective: Night Country” hearkens back to the critically acclaimed first season pairing Matthew McConaughey’s Rust Cohle with Woody Harrelson’s Marty Hart.

From Salon Jan. 21, 2024

The sports line hearkens back to late ’90s and early 2000s Adidas football gear — think thick stripes and oversize hoodies — with puffy jackets and track pants in earthy, gray tones.

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 4, 2023

The song, Hagar said, also hearkens back to their work with Satchel, another alt-rock band Hagar and Smith formed in the early ’90s, which released three full-length albums, plus a split compilation with Brad.

From Seattle Times Oct. 27, 2023

It hearkens back to the long-ago rope, swinging in the slight breeze.

From "X: A Novel" by Ilyasah Shabazz

As directed by James Griffiths, Mr. Basden and Mr. Key’s screenplay hearkened back to “Local Hero” with its warm glow of appreciation for U.K. oddballs.

From The Wall Street Journal Nov. 24, 2025

Carney revealed it on Friday during his first speech as prime minister when he hearkened back - with a shiny polish - to the origins of this former colony.

From BBC Mar. 16, 2025

Those title-winning faces hearkened back to a time when Lumen was the most intimidating atmosphere in football.

From Seattle Times Sep. 24, 2023

The teaser hearkened back to its roots with simple line art tracing out the Seattle skyline and a new recording of Grammer performing the show’s “Tossed Salads and Scrambled Eggs” theme.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 23, 2023

Slant and Will listened; and even Bono, when he was by, hearkened some and quipped.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

Parsons said liminal spaces all share a quality of feeling familiar: hearkening fragments of distant memories or experiences during childhood.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 6, 2026

Subconsciously hearkening back to his childhood sleep experiences, he adds, “I wanted this story to feel like a nightmare that just keeps getting worse and worse and worse and worse.”

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 5, 2026

Unfortunately, when we’re taught that there are only eight planets and these planets reign in their orbits, we’re hearkening back to the old geocentric concept.

From National Geographic Feb. 16, 2024

And hearkening back to FDR’s Federal Writers Project, this effort could find a paying home for local reporters and editors laid off by Gannett and others.

From Seattle Times May 17, 2023

Eh, fie! to be hearkening to what other folk are saying!

From Frederica and her Guardians The Perils of Orphanhood by Robertson, Margaret M. (Margaret Murray)




Vocabulary lists containing hearken


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