Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

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.

See Examples For:

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

Certainly, many of the Seahawks can at least hearken back to last Oct.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 16, 2023

It's also got ground pork, shrimp, lemongrass, and lots of bright herbs, and is served with a fish sauce dipping sauce — flavors that skew Vietnamese, but also hearken back to Cantonese traditions.

From Salon ● Dec. 31, 2021

But the question—posed using the phrase “such a time as this —makes Graham hearken back to the biblical tale of Esther, a queen who was made a royal for “such a time as this.”

From National Geographic ● Dec. 31, 2020

‘Now Théoden son of Thengel, will you hearken to me?’ said Gandalf.

From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien

Usually with female characters, everything always hearkens back to the family.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026

A line of dialogue hearkens back to the beginning in a way that might be thought of as closure, as a circle closes without going anywhere, and yet things are not the same.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2025

For others, it hearkens to a time of fear and frustration as the nation hit back at foes real and perceived.

From Seattle Times ● May 26, 2024

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

From New York Times ● Mar. 6, 2024

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

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

The judge also hearkened back to the days that Silicon Valley consisted mostly of orchards farmed by immigrants.

From Washington Times ● May 27, 2023

The Indian campaign hearkened back to the 1913 passive resistance campaign in which Mahatma Gandhi led a tumultuous procession of Indians crossing illegally from Natal to the Transvaal.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

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

This came three days after forcing 17 turnovers in a win over Cal, hearkening back to the days of defensive dominance when Matisse Thybulle was leading the nation in steals.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 15, 2022

The farmer's wife, hearkening to his decision, groaned and wept, for she felt that the tyrant, even if he gave way under strong pressure, would seek a victim for his wrath--that one the weakest.

From The Curse of Koshiu A Chronicle of Old Japan by Lewis Wingfield


Vocabulary lists containing hearken

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Just like flashcards, but way more fun

Don't take our word for it. Leave the boring studying behind and join VocabTrainer today. You'll learn even faster and never look back.

Take me to Vocabulary.com