heed

American  

[heed] / hid /

verb (used with object)

1. to give careful attention to.

   He did not heed the warning.

   Synonyms:

   mark, consider, observe, note

   Antonyms:

   ignore, disregard

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verb (used without object)

1. to give attention; have regard.

noun

1. careful attention; notice; observation (usually with give ortake ).

   Synonyms:

   watchfulness, vigilance, caution, care, consideration

heed British  

/ hiːd /

noun

1. close and careful attention; notice (often in the phrases give, pay, or take heed )

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verb

1. to pay close attention to (someone or something)

Usage

What does heed mean? To heed something is to listen to it, pay careful attention to it, or otherwise observe or acknowledge it in some way—and often to take action on it. To heed a warning is to listen to it and do what it says to do (or not do what it says not to do). To heed a request is honor it—to do what is requested. To heed calls for reform is to acknowledge them, and, sometimes, to actually follow through and make reforms. Heed can also be used as a noun meaning careful attention or observation. It’s most often used in the phrases take heed, give heed, and pay heed, which all mean to listen or pay attention, as in Take heed to what he says, for he is very wise. To pay no heed to someone is to disregard or ignore them. The adjective unheeded means disregarded, despite having been heard or noted. An unheeded warning is one that has been ignored. Example: I should have heeded your warnings, but instead I ignored them.

Other Word Forms

• heeder noun
• heedful adjective
• heedfully adverb
• heedfulness noun
• unheeded adjective
• unheededly adverb
• unheeding adjective
• unheedingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of heed

First recorded before 900; Middle English heden, Old English hēdan; cognate with German hüten “to guard, protect”; akin to hood ¹

Explanation

Heed is an old word, meaning "to listen to and follow." It can also be used as a noun: "Take heed of my instructions," said the wizard, "for the magic potion will work only by the light of the full moon." The most common use of heed is with warnings, as in "You'd better heed my advice, or you'll be in serious trouble!" The word derives from Old English hēdan and is related to the Dutch hoeden and German hüten — from Germanic cultures where fairy tales with mysterious warnings and magical consequences abound.

Example Sentences

I have no solution for the fraught dynamics of social media, besides perhaps throwing one’s phone in a lake, and “Yesteryear’s” target audience isn’t likely to heed that advice.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

Sound advice in Washington is never to take a job unless you’re prepared to resign, and more people should heed it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

Falling asset prices can be an early warning signal that investors should heed, especially when declines are persistent.

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026

That is, until the herd decides to heed the new CDC recommendations.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 5, 2026

And by him his father sat, and said nothing, but watched, and gave no longer any heed to the defence.

From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien

Related Words

• hear
• listen
• obey
• observe
• take to heart