Definition of hear out

The phrase "hear out" initially appeared in English language in the early 1400s, around 150 years after the word "hear" gained its current meaning of "to perceive sound." At that time, "out" served as a preposition that meant "from" or "of", and it was used to convey the idea of completeness or finality. The expression "hear out" evolved from the older phrase "hear all out," which was used to indicate that someone should listen carefully and attentively to someone else until they have finished speaking, without interrupting or dismissing them. The phrase was originally used in legal contexts, where it signified that a witness was being allowed to present their entire testimony before being questioned further. Over time, the expression "hear out" replaced the longer phrase "hear all out" because it was more concise and easier to remember. Today, the term "hear out" is commonly used in everyday conversations to suggest that a person should listen to someone's complaint or argument in full before responding or taking action. This usage, however, differs slightly from its historical origin, as it is now more widely used to encourage active listening and empathetic responses, rather than to legal contexts.