Headphones Definition: Interesting Facts, Examples and Tips

To define “headphones” correctly, familiarize yourself with the common usage of this word in sentences. Look at how native speakers do it to understand this pattern.

Every one of us is using “headphones” daily (maybe even now) or was using them at some point, so it is nice to learn how to refer to this item in different terms to expand your vocabulary and bring more flexibility to your English.

Related nouns: speakers smartphone device computer laptop

Synonyms (contextual): earphones earbuds headset

Common collocations: wireless headphones loud headphones broken headphones

Learn how to say “headphones” in combination with different parts of speech. The understanding of this process will help you with the creation of different collocations and simple sentences to describe something as well.

With adjectives: expensive headphones comfortable headphones professional headphones

With verbs: wear headphones break headphones buy headphones

With nouns (noun + noun): headphones brand headphones cable headphones sound

There are not a lot of idiomatic phrases that can change the meaning of “headphones” in English, but still, there are some general constructions with this word that will make your speech or text more interesting and natural, so it is worth knowing them.

• Headphones on, world off — a modern expression meaning to shut out the surroundings and focus on what’s being heard.

  As soon as the music started, it was headphones on, world off.

• Put your headphones on — to use headphones to listen to something privately, often to block out distractions.

  She put her headphones on to concentrate while working in the noisy café.

• Take your headphones off — to remove them, signaling you’re ready to listen or engage.

  Tom took his headphones off when his name was called.

Assess your comprehension of phrases and vocabulary related to “headphones” by answering questions that are specially made with a learner-centered approach.

This device is used worldwide, much like a smartphone, so we offer you to learn how to spell “headphones” and pronounce this word correctly, so you can refer to this item in different languages while you are visiting other countries.

Take a look at the interesting details and history connected with “headphones.” A century ago, this part of our modern lives was completely different from what we have now, and the development of it was crazy!

• The first headphones were invented for telephone operators.

  Headphones were first invented in 1910 by Nathaniel Baldwin in his kitchen for telephone operators and other radio pioneers. The first headphones were bulky, uncomfortable, and were designed for functional communication, not for the enjoyment of music.

• Sony Walkman revolutionized headphone use.

  Before Sony’s Walkman portable cassette player launched in 1979, headphones were mainly used by professionals. The Walkman has made private listening to music popularly acceptable and raised the modern fashion culture of everyone wearing headsets permanently everywhere.

• Noise-canceling technology was invented by accident.

  In 1978, Amar Bose conceptualized noise-canceling headphones. Deafening engine noise had ruined his music presentation during a flight. His idea was to detect ambient noise using microphones and then produce inverse sound waves to cancel the noise.

• Wireless headphones outsell wired ones now.

  Wireless earphones, specifically Apple AirPods and similar earbuds, have taken over decades of the wired headphone industry’s authority. In spite of charging requirements and higher prices, such devices with Bluetooth connectivity now amount to over 60% of global headphone sales.

See how musicians, athletes and actors refer to “headphones” in English. How does it become a crucial part of their lives that brings joy, helps with different decisions and allows them to focus on a certain task that they are currently performing.