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:
That said, widening credit spreads sends an important signal every investor should heed about which stocks to buy and which to avoid.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 1, 2026
Interest rates aren’t the only thing going up; so are your chances of having a great evening if you heed my colleagues’ recommendations.
From Slate ● Sep. 16, 2026
Dark-mode Rhaenyra would have been wise to heed this warning when it was delivered the second time.
From Salon ● Aug. 11, 2026
The west coast province's premier, David Eby, declared a state of emergency over the weekend, urging residents to heed evacuation orders and warning that the fires continue to move "incredibly quickly".
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
“If that is the only way you will heed my advice, then yes,” said Luxa earnestly.
From "Gregor the Overlander" by Suzanne Collins
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
"We note with concern that not everyone has heeded these warnings, and that individuals are knowingly exposing themselves to mortal danger," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.
From Barron's ● Oct. 3, 2026
Warnings had not been heeded that damp ash conducts electricity, short circuiting power lines and substations.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026
Much of the documentary focuses on researcher and whistleblower Douglas Gowan, who tried to raise the alarm about 14 sites - 12 of which were in Wales - but died before his warnings were heeded.
From BBC ● 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
“Drop it,” said Ron sharply to Hermione as she opened her mouth to argue some more, and for once, Hermione heeded him, and fell silent.
From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling
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
State-backed funds also wrote checks, heeding Beijing’s call to nurture homegrown AI companies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
The EU stopped short of heeding a call by over a million people, who signed a petition last May calling on the 27-country bloc to prohibit such methods.
From Barron's ● May 13, 2026
Slowly, trampling the fallen, he rode forth, heeding no longer any dart.
From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien
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.
