regard
Americanverb (used with object)
-
regards,
present (3rd person singular)
-
regarded,
past participle, past
-
regarding
present participle
-
to look upon or think of with a particular feeling.
to regard a person with favor.
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to have or show respect or concern for.
-
to think highly of; esteem.
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to take into account; consider.
-
to look at; observe.
She regarded him with amusement.
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to relate to; concern.
The news does not regard the explosion.
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to see, look at, or conceive of in a particular way; judge (usually followed byas ).
I regard every assignment as a challenge. They regarded his behavior as childish.
verb (used without object)
-
regards,
present (3rd person singular)
-
regarded,
past participle, past
-
regarding
present participle
-
to pay attention.
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to look or gaze.
noun
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reference; relation.
to err with regard to facts.
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an aspect, point, or particular.
quite satisfactory in this regard.
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thought; attention; concern.
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look; gaze.
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respect, esteem, or deference.
a high regard for scholarship.
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kindly feeling; liking.
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regards, sentiments of esteem or affection.
Give them my regards.
idioms
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as regards. as.
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with / in regard to, referring to; concerning: Also within regards to
With regard to the new contract, we have some questions.
verb
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to look closely or attentively at (something or someone); observe steadily
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(tr) to hold (a person or thing) in respect, admiration, or affection
we regard your work very highly
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(tr) to look upon or consider in a specified way
she regarded her brother as her responsibility
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(tr) to relate to; concern; have a bearing on
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to take notice of or pay attention to (something); heed
he has never regarded the conventions
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(preposition) in respect of; concerning
noun
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a gaze; look
-
attention; heed
he spends without regard to his bank balance
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esteem, affection, or respect
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reference, relation, or connection (esp in the phrases with regard to or in regard to )
-
(plural) good wishes or greetings (esp in the phrase with kind regards , used at the close of a letter)
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on this point
Usage
Although sometimes considered poor substitutes for about or concerning, the phrases as regards, in regard to, and with regard to are standard and occur in all varieties of spoken and written English, especially in business writing: As regards your letter of January 19. … Note that although in regards to and with regards to are generally considered poor usage, these less formal variants have become increasingly common.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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regardsimple
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regardssimple
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have regardedperfect
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has regardedperfect
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am regardingprogressive
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are regardingprogressive
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is regardingprogressive
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have been regardingperfect progressive
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has been regardingperfect progressive
Past
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regardedsimple
-
had regardedperfect
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was regardingprogressive
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were regardingprogressive
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had been regardingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of regard
First recorded in 1350–1400; (for the verb) late Middle English, from Middle French regarder “to look at” ( cf. reward ); equivalent to re- + guard ; noun derivative of the verb
Explanation
When you give someone a good, long look, you regard them. It can also mean "to believe," as in "I regard her as my best friend." Regard often means respect and admiration, as in "I have the greatest regard for my grandmother." Sometimes it's a greeting: you can send someone your regards, which means to tell them you said hello and wish them well. There's a famous song called, "Give My Regards to Broadway." On the other hand, you can use it as a sign-off on a letter. Instead of "Sincerely" or "Yours Truly," you can close with "Regards."
Vocabulary lists containing regard
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The Town with No Mirrors
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Vocabulary from Readings 3, Unit 1
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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:
Those of us who regard the court as an essential institution find it particularly distressing how personal it often gets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
But Morocco's state press agency has published a letter the king wrote to the president telling him that the name-change was taking place as "a personal expression of my high regard".
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
Many maintain the opposite is true, especially with regard to inclusive content.
From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2026
It also runs counter to a long history of immigration in Argentina, which has one of the world's most lenient constitutions in this regard, according to sociologist Ivan Schuliaquer.
From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026
But she walked without regard to burrs or thorns, for as she stepped forth the ground beneath her became carpeted with fluorescent rose petals.
From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall
“This de-rating has gone too far with regards to the AI concerns and we think Wolters’s competitive moats remain robust,” they add.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
He said on Wednesday: "I was informed yesterday that the Police Federation are considering legal action, I am in discussions with the Police Federation with regards to this matter".
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
And the betting market still regards James as a superstar.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
In regards to enforcement, they have said they will get in touch with customers who repeatedly do not follow the rules and may take further action if customers ignore the ban.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
The girls’ names are in most regards diverse, though with a fair share of literary and otherwise artful touches.
From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt
Sure, your emergency fund is $20,000, uncomfortably low for you, probably regarded as a godsend for the average Joe.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
Cuba’s once highly regarded medical services have deteriorated, so Mariño has bought all her own medical supplies for the birth of her daughter, including sutures and surgical tape.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
For Araujo, though, he arrives at Anfield with an opportunity to reset his career and rediscover the confidence that once made him one of the club's most highly regarded defenders.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
The discovery was unexpected because this pentavalent state of uranium had generally been regarded as unstable and short-lived.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 9, 2026
She regarded me pleasantly, as if we were discussing what hymn to play next.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
The coal miner hasn’t provided any commentary regarding 2026 volume and mining-cost guidance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
"We're essentially using state-of-the-art technologies and genetic analytical techniques to get new, empirical information regarding historical cultural and agricultural practices," says Stinson.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026
In some cases, countries have publicly stated their overt support or opposition regarding Infantino.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
A spokesperson for the federal army has not yet responded to AFP's request for comment regarding the accusation.
From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026
She had to tilt her head up just to see its featureless face regarding her.
From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi
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.
