heed
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
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:
A deputy attempted to stop the attack using verbal commands, the department said, but the dog paid no heed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
Passengers are also being urged to heed travel advice from the UK government, external, as this can also affect travel insurance rights.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
Of course, the supermajority did not heed her advice.
From Slate ● Jul. 15, 2026
In other countries, Mr. Mandelbaum writes, “a small circle of officials” tend to dominate foreign relations, paying scant heed to “what the people of the country have thought or wanted.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
“Aye, we’re short two men. Find your bench then,” said the ship's master, and paid him no more heed.
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
He corrals his three wiener dogs scurrying under his feet as he heeds an impatient chirping microwave that signals some melted plastisol is ready to be poured.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 9, 2022
Someone heeds my call, and one by one the lanterns are turned up as high as they will go.
From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland
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
The duo noted that Germany had heeded Trump's calls for greater spending on defense and that it had allowed American planes to use German bases and airspace during the ongoing conflict with Iran.
From Barron's ● May 2, 2026
Yet he still believes that he’s a man of the people who should be heeded on every aspect of life, especially on how to disregard all criticism because anyone who criticizes you must be wrong.
From Slate ● Apr. 17, 2026
If only they’d heeded their instinct to keep quiet.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 26, 2026
And She that walked in the darkness had heard the Elves cry that cry far back in the deeps of time, and she had not heeded it, and it did not daunt her now.
From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien
Jamie Thornback, who represented the families of 20 passengers killed in 2020 when Iranian forces mistakenly shot down a commercial flight taking off from Tehran, said travelers aren’t heeding the risks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 8, 2026
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
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
All this highlights that Buffett has paid a price for not heeding his forever mantra.
From Barron's ● Jan. 16, 2026
“So none of ye are any good at heeding warnings?” asks Agent Fiona.
From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston
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.
