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

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

Pope Leo has so far operated very differently, gently holding on to some of the progressive ideals of his predecessor while paying heed to the views of traditionalists.

Read more on BBC

Venezuela's aviation authority said Wednesday that it banned multiple airlines accused of "terrorism" after they suspended routes, heeding warnings from the United States about military activity in the region.

Read more on Barron's

A county report on fire evacuations last month found that there was a recommendation to issue more widespread evacuations to the west around midnight, but for unknown reasons it was not heeded.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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

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.