What Does ‘Hear! Hear!’ Mean? Origin and Examples in Writing

“Hear, hear” is a colloquial English-language expression that serves as a verbal agreement or response to a speaker. The expression is a simple way to demonstrate consensus amongst a large group or crowd. While “hear, hear” is an acceptable styling of the term, Merriam-Webster dictionary uses exclamations—“Hear! Hear!”—to set off each word in the phrase.

Speakers often use the phrase to punctuate formal discussions during a meeting, ceremonial toast, or governmental debate. Traditionally, speakers and writers used the phrase as a stand-alone sentence in English grammar, but the expression may also come at the end of a longer statement.

While the expression’s exact origins are unclear, “hear, hear” became popular in the seventeenth century when members of Parliament—the legislative body in the United Kingdom—often used it in debates and discussions. At the time, applauding during a debate was discouraged, so to demonstrate agreement with a statement or proposal, members of Parliament would shout, “Hear him! Hear him!”

The expression may have derived from “hear, ye!” a popular phrase that town criers—workers employed to make public announcements—used in the sixteenth century to capture a crowd’s attention before making an important announcement. During the eighteenth century, “Hear! Hear!” became a popular abbreviation for the phrase “Hear him! Hear him!”

Today, politicians still use the phrase during discussions in the House of Commons (the dominant branch of Parliament). The term has spread to other governments, including the Australian Parliament.

Speakers and writers often use the phrases “hear, hear” and “here, here” interchangeably, which is a common issue with homophones—two or more words with the same pronunciation and different meanings.

However, “here, here” is grammatically incorrect and a misspelling of “hear, hear.” When writing the phrase, use the verb spelling of “hear, hear” and not the adverb spelling of “here, here.”

In modern times, you can still use “hear, hear” in a discussion or debate setting, but you can also deploy it during a celebration or dinner. Here are a few situations where you can use the phrase:

• To passionately agree: Speakers most often use “hear, hear” to express approval or agreement. Using the term for passionate agreement dates back to its original purpose in the UK Parliament. To indicate your agreement with someone’s views quickly, simply say “hear, hear” in response.
• To draw attention: If you’re in a large room or amidst a crowd, you can shout “hear, hear” to gather attention toward the main speaker. During disorderly debates, you can use “hear, hear” to refocus the group.
• To end a toast: “Hear, hear” can serve as an ending to a formal toast or speech. The crowd may raise their glasses and say “hear, hear” back to the speaker in response.
• To cheer: Instead of applauding by clapping, you can use “hear, hear” to cheer. Typically, people will say “hear, hear” in situations that discourage clapping.

In writing, “hear, hear” may indicate the story’s time frame or help build tension. Here are some examples:

1. 1. To reflect the time: “Hear, hear!” the town crier shouted. “I have news from the king.” In this example, the phrase indicates that the narrative takes place when the ruling class employed workers to announce essential information to the townspeople.
   
2. 2. To explain a debate: If you’re writing a scene that involves a debate, consider using “hear, hear” to demonstrate consensus and move the plot forward. One example includes: “After giving his speech, the crowd shouted ‘hear, hear!’” In the sentence, the phrase indicates to the reader that the crowd approves of the speaker’s message.
3. 3. To portray a government meeting: When writing a scene that involves a political discussion, you can use “hear, hear” to make the deliberation sound authentic and build tension. While the majority may agree on a topic, the main character may disagree, creating a point of conflict. In the sentence, “While the senators exclaimed, ‘hear, hear,’ the governor sat in the back of the room in silence,” the phrase illustrates the juxtaposition of differing opinions between the senators and the governor, which helps build tension.

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