heed
Americanverb (used with object)
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heeds,
present (3rd person singular)
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heeded,
past participle, past
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heeding
present participle
verb (used without object)
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heeds,
present (3rd person singular)
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heeded,
past participle, past
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heeding
present participle
noun
noun
verb
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
Derived Forms
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heedernoun
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heedfulnessnoun
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heedfuladjective
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unheededadjective
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unheedingadjective
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heedfullyadverb
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unheededlyadverb
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unheedinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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heedsimple
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heedssimple
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have heededperfect
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has heededperfect
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am heedingprogressive
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are heedingprogressive
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is heedingprogressive
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have been heedingperfect progressive
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has been heedingperfect progressive
Past
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heededsimple
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had heededperfect
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was heedingprogressive
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were heedingprogressive
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had been heedingperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing heed
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Dark-mode Rhaenyra would have been wise to heed this warning when it was delivered the second time.
From Salon ● Aug. 11, 2026
President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Wednesday that Russia had been preparing for a "massive attack", urging people to heed air raid alerts.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
Mr. Bailey would have done better to heed the observation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
Amid her mounting fame in the 1990s and early aughts, Fricker did not heed the call to move Stateside and remained in the U.K.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
She had done what was needful for him as a baby, but she had business of her own and once he could look after himself at all she paid no more heed to him.
From "A Wizard of Earthsea" by Ursula K. Le Guin
Not everyone heeds the finality of the message, however, as frantic family and friends refuse to give up on loved ones trapped under the debris.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
As the strikes surge, air sirens go off frequently, but not everyone heeds them.
From BBC ● Jan. 16, 2026
Which he eventually heeds – but does more than just that.
From Salon ● Sep. 1, 2023
But he said the fight is not over as he heeds advocates’ call to force all senators to go on record with their positions.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 18, 2022
"This wolf king heeds your counsel, does he?"
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
Warnings had not been heeded that damp ash conducts electricity, short circuiting power lines and substations.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026
But this trend must force public health leaders to confront what a communication failure looks like when well-meaning but blunt advice stops being heard and heeded and more sympathetic, appealing messages take hold.
From Slate ● Aug. 27, 2026
Her mother, who lives in western Ukraine, called around midnight to check in—and to ask for a photo as proof that Olha had heeded her warnings and gone to the shelter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026
Had it heeded a more malevolent sensibility than an instinct to overexplain, it might have been more ruthlessly effective at yucking our yum for road trips.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 22, 2026
Neither man heeded me, if indeed they heard me above the din of their weapons.
From "The Shakespeare Stealer" by Gary L. Blackwood
Youngsters appear to be heeding this message - several children and teenagers participated in the Monday's parades, decked out in creative costumes.
From BBC ● Apr. 7, 2026
In Mayitoukou, only the older generation was heeding the call, said one village elder, Antoine.
From Barron's ● Mar. 14, 2026
Atty. for the District of Minnesota Daniel N. Rosen and others should be held in contempt for not heeding orders to return the personal property of 28 of immigrants who had been freed from detention.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 3, 2026
To me, a Midwestern kid familiar with winter winds dragging their fangs across her face, Mary’s upright spine and sure gait set an example worth heeding.
From Salon ● Jan. 31, 2026
Apparently, they’re strictly heeding Disraeli’s advice which was to “Never apologize, never explain!”
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
