heed

[heed]

verb (used with object)

1. to give careful attention to.

   He did not heed the warning.

   Synonyms: mark, consider, observe, note
   Antonyms: ignore, disregard

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

/ hiːd /

noun

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

verb

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of heed¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of heed¹

Old English hēdan; related to Old Saxon hōdian, Old High German huoten

Example Sentences

Mr. George’s departure from the Heritage board means that the institution may be less likely to heed his call to be “unbending and unflinching” in its fidelity to these principles.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But with freebies seeing such success in Bihar - and more state elections looming - that warning is unlikely to be heeded.

Read more on BBC

"His words were extraordinary and I wish cultural ministers around the world would take heed. He talked about compassion and leaning into the problems of the world," Blanchett told journalists following the audience.

Read more on Barron's

Investors should heed that advice when deciding whether to pursue a market rotation.

Read more on Barron's

She was a child, so she didn’t always heed that advice.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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

When To Use

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.