regard

American  

[ri-gahrd] / rɪˈgɑrd /

verb (used with object)

1. to look upon or think of with a particular feeling.

   to regard a person with favor.

2. to have or show respect or concern for.

3. to think highly of; esteem.

   Synonyms:

   value, revere, honor, respect

4. to take into account; consider.

5. to look at; observe.

   She regarded him with amusement.

   Synonyms:

   mark, remark, see, note, notice

6. to relate to; concern.

   The news does not regard the explosion.

7. to see, look at, or conceive of in a particular way; judge (usually followed byas ).

   I regard every assignment as a challenge. They regarded his behavior as childish.

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verb (used without object)

1. to pay attention.

2. to look or gaze.

noun

1. reference; relation.

   to err with regard to facts.

2. an aspect, point, or particular.

   quite satisfactory in this regard.

3. thought; attention; concern.

4. look; gaze.

5. respect, esteem, or deference.

   a high regard for scholarship.

6. kindly feeling; liking.

7. regards, sentiments of esteem or affection.

   Give them my regards.

idioms

1. as regards. as.

2. with / in regard to, referring to; concerning: Also within regards to

   With regard to the new contract, we have some questions.

regard British  

/ rɪˈɡɑːd /

verb

1. to look closely or attentively at (something or someone); observe steadily

2. (tr) to hold (a person or thing) in respect, admiration, or affection

   we regard your work very highly

3. (tr) to look upon or consider in a specified way

   she regarded her brother as her responsibility

4. (tr) to relate to; concern; have a bearing on

5. to take notice of or pay attention to (something); heed

   he has never regarded the conventions

6. (preposition) in respect of; concerning

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noun

1. a gaze; look

2. attention; heed

   he spends without regard to his bank balance

3. esteem, affection, or respect

4. reference, relation, or connection (esp in the phrases with regard to or in regard to )

5. (plural) good wishes or greetings (esp in the phrase with kind regards , used at the close of a letter)

6. on this point

regard More Idioms  

1. see in regard to.

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Usage

Although sometimes considered poor substitutes for about or concerning, the phrases as regards, in regard to, and with regard to are standard and occur in all varieties of spoken and written English, especially in business writing: As regards your letter of January 19. … Note that although in regards to and with regards to are generally considered poor usage, these less formal variants have become increasingly common.

Other Word Forms

• regardable adjective
• unregarded adjective
• unregardedly adverb
• well-regarded adjective

Etymology

Origin of regard

First recorded in 1350–1400; (for the verb) late Middle English, from Middle French regarder “to look at” ( cf. reward ); equivalent to re- + guard ; noun derivative of the verb

Explanation

When you give someone a good, long look, you regard them. It can also mean "to believe," as in "I regard her as my best friend." Regard often means respect and admiration, as in "I have the greatest regard for my grandmother." Sometimes it's a greeting: you can send someone your regards, which means to tell them you said hello and wish them well. There's a famous song called, "Give My Regards to Broadway." On the other hand, you can use it as a sign-off on a letter. Instead of "Sincerely" or "Yours Truly," you can close with "Regards."

Example Sentences

Sporting what they regard as a face “the color of boiled turnips,” he is first discovered sitting on a steamer trunk in the hall, ripe to be menaced by the family’s dogs.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

Hiro Murai directed half the series’ 10 episodes, working again with Christian Sprenger, his director of photography on “Atlanta” and “Station Eleven,” which I regard as a seal of quality.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 28, 2026

Musk saw Google, and its subsidiary DeepMind, as out to create AI that thinks sharper than people do with little regard for controlling it.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

And yet even if this dispute was over lofty principles of judicial supremacy and institutional regard, the court’s later conduct gave the game away.

From Slate • Apr. 21, 2026

“Ah, heaven, she gifs me the name that no one speaks since Minna died!” cried the Professor, pausing in a puddle to regard her with grateful delight.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

Related Words

• admire
• consider
• deem
• look upon
• respect
• revere
• see
• think
• treat
• view