Hear about sb Meaning, Examples & How to Use in English

What Does “Hear about sb” Mean?

“Hear about sb” means to receive information or news concerning someone. It usually refers to learning or finding out something related to a person.

Introduction

The phrase “hear about sb” is commonly used in English to talk about receiving news or information about someone. When you say you “hear about someone,” it means you have learned something new or notable concerning that person. This could be good news, bad news, or just general information. Understanding the “hear about sb meaning” helps learners use this phrase naturally in conversations, especially when discussing updates or stories related to friends, family, or colleagues. This phrase is often used in spoken and written English, making it important for learners to grasp its use and context.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: hear about sb (hear about somebody)
• Type: Transitive
• Level: A2–B2
• Short meaning: To receive news or information about someone

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Hear about sb” is a phrasal verb with the preposition “about.” It is inseparable, meaning you cannot separate “hear” and “about.” The object (sb) always comes after “about.”

Structure pattern:

• Subject + hear + about + somebody

Example: I heard about Sarah’s promotion yesterday.

How to Use “Hear about sb”?

You use “hear about sb” when you want to say that you have obtained information or news about a person. It often appears in conversations when discussing recent events or updates related to someone.

It can be used in various tenses:

• Present: I hear about him often.
• Past: Did you hear about Jane?
• Future: You will hear about the results soon.

Examples

When talking with friends, you might say:

• I heard about Mark’s new job. It sounds exciting!
• Have you heard about Lucy’s trip to Japan?
• She heard about the accident but wasn’t involved.
• We heard about the new manager from our colleagues.
• Did you hear about Tom’s wedding plans?

These examples show “hear about sb” in natural sentences.

Common Mistakes

Sometimes learners confuse “hear about sb” with “hear of sb.” Here are some common errors:

• Incorrect: I heard him about the party.
• Correct: I heard about him and the party.
• Incorrect: Did you hear about to John?
• Correct: Did you hear about John?

Remember, “about” must come directly after “hear,” followed by the person’s name or pronoun.

Differences / Synonyms

It’s easy to mix “hear about sb” with similar phrases like “hear of sb” or “find out about sb.”

• Hear about sb: Receive specific news or information about someone’s situation or actions.
• Hear of sb: Know that someone exists, but without details.
• Find out about sb: Actively discover information about someone.

For example:

• I heard about Sarah’s promotion. (I know the details.)
• I’ve heard of Sarah, but I don’t know her well. (I know who she is.)
• I found out about Sarah’s work by asking our manager. (I actively learned.)

Common Collocations

When using “hear about sb,” certain words often appear together. Here are some common collocations:

• Hear good/bad news about sb: Receive positive or negative information
• Hear rumors about sb: Learn unconfirmed stories about someone
• Hear updates about sb: Receive current information or progress
• Hear stories about sb: Listen to accounts or experiences related to someone
• Hear complaints about sb: Receive negative feedback or criticism

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of hear about sb:

• Hear Sth From Sb
• Hear From Sb
• Hear About Sth
• Hear Sth Of Sb
• Hear Sb Out

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using “hear about sb”:

Anna: Did you hear about Mike?

Ben: No, what happened?

Anna: He got a new job in New York!

Ben: That’s great! I hadn’t heard about that.

Practice

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “hear about sb”:

• Have you _______ _______ the new teacher yet?
• I just _______ _______ Jenny’s promotion yesterday.
• We will _______ _______ the results next week.

Answers:

• heard about
• heard about
• hear about

FAQs

• Q: Can I say “hear about sb” in formal writing?

  A: Yes, it’s acceptable but more common in spoken or informal contexts.

• Q: What is the difference between “hear about” and “hear of”?

  A: “Hear about” means receiving specific news; “hear of” means knowing someone exists.
• Q: Is “hear about” separable?

  A: No, “hear about” is inseparable; the object must come after “about.”

• Q: Can “hear about sb” be used in negative sentences?

  A: Yes, for example, “I haven’t heard about him recently.”
• Q: Does “hear about sb” always refer to people?

  A: Usually, yes, but it can sometimes refer to organizations or groups.