A way of showing that one is listening to a person who is talking to them by rewording what the other person just said and repeating it back to them. This is supposed to validate the person you are listening to and rephrasing, according to some schools of thought in psychology.
Patient to therapist: I'm really depressed.
Therapist: I see. Yes. You are depressed.
Patient: Nothing is going well.
Therapist: Nothing seems to be going well.
Patient: I feel like killing myself.
Therapist: You're thinking of killing yourself.
Patient: Yes, I'm going to do it NOW.
Therapist: You want to do it now.
Patient: *Jumps out window.*
Therapist: Woosh. Splat.
Therapist: I see. Yes. You are depressed.
Patient: Nothing is going well.
Therapist: Nothing seems to be going well.
Patient: I feel like killing myself.
Therapist: You're thinking of killing yourself.
Patient: Yes, I'm going to do it NOW.
Therapist: You want to do it now.
Patient: *Jumps out window.*
Therapist: Woosh. Splat.
by TheLastPunslinger May 30, 2005
That Greg guy's sales numbers are crazy high because he's really good at active listening (i.e., he's really good at making you feel like he's listening to you).
by Dictionnaire Diabolique January 25, 2017
Give affirmative responses to someone, even while you may not be quite sure what they are talking about.
by Anonymous October 22, 2003
One who pretends to act like they are listening to what you are saying to them while they are actually just thinking of a response. These bastards have to follow every single clause that comes out of your mouth with something to the effect of: "Oh Yeah?" "Ahhhhhh" "Oh Alright" "I see" or one from the plethora of others.
I am really sick of the active listeners in this office. He knows exactly what you mean before you even say it... apparently.
by sp25 June 20, 2008