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:
The demonstrations, inspired by similar movements in France and Italy calling for political elites to heed the concerns of the younger generation, were largely peaceful during the day.
From Barron's ● Oct. 31, 2026
The market blip was followed by extreme points of view that investors should neither fully heed nor trust.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026
Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim’s experimental portrait of Elizabeth Holmes is the kind of phenomenon that even the pickiest awards voters will need to pay heed to.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026
It is a piece of wisdom that all French leaders take care to heed: young people on the street equals trouble.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
Only the beaver went about their business and paid him no heed.
From "The Incredible Journey" by Sheila Burnford
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
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
She also heeds Logan's orders, exiling Kendall, her own child, from her party to accommodate her ex-husband, who won't be seen with him.
From Salon ● Dec. 6, 2021
"This wolf king heeds your counsel, does he?"
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
When his fans heeded Cook’s call to buy his 2005 live album, “Retaliation,” they made him the first comedian to score a Top 5 release on the Billboard albums chart since Steve Martin in 1978.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
Each red flag warning brings reminders of the devastating 2025 fires in Los Angeles, and tests whether officials have heeded the lessons from the Eaton and Palisades fires.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026
All at once, the game plan unfurled, as El-Sayed heeded those warnings.
From Slate ● Nov. 4, 2026
In hard-hit Bangkok, schools were closed and authorities urged people to work from home where possible -- a call that many heeded, with roads and public transport networks noticeably quieter.
From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026
In all the days that she was growing up, signs failed not, but none heeded.
From "Go Tell It on the Mountain" by James Baldwin
The documentary recounts the history of the original group while heeding its call to action by collaborating with next-gen artists to carry the tradition forward.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
Huge numbers with flares gathered outside the ground, heeding a call from the 1958 Group, before making their way through the Munich tunnel under the stadium.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
President Volodymyr Zelensky has been heeding a wise Ukrainian proverb: A gentle calf suckles two mothers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
In Mayitoukou, only the older generation was heeding the call, said one village elder, Antoine.
From Barron's ● Mar. 14, 2026
There in the last end of Egladil upon the green grass the parting feast was held; but Frodo ate and drank little, heeding only the beauty of the Lady and her voice.
From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien
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