1. listens carefully or pays close attention to
Usage: formal; literary
2. recalls or brings to mind something from the past
Usage: formal; often used with ‘back to’

Examples

• She hearkens to her grandmother’s wise advice.
• The old man hearkens to the sound of distant thunder.
• This melody hearkens back to classical compositions.
• The architecture hearkens to ancient Greek designs.
• He hearkens to every word the teacher says.
• The poem hearkens back to simpler times.
• The student hearkens carefully to the lecture.