verb
Uncommon
heed
HEED
Heed (verb) means to pay close attention to advice or a warning and take it seriously. Example: “You should heed your doctor's advice and rest for a few days.”
verb
1
To pay close attention to advice or a warning and take it seriously.
"You should heed your doctor's advice and rest for a few days."
"They failed to heed the storm warnings and stayed on the beach."
noun
1
Careful attention paid to something.
"Pay heed to the safety instructions before you start the machine."
How to use heed
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo take notice of a warning or piece of advice and actually act on it.
When to use it
Slightly formal or old-fashioned — "listen to" or "pay attention to" are more everyday alternatives.
Common pairings
heed a warning
pay heed to
heed advice
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like heed.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- heeds
- Past tense
- heeded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
You should _____ your doctor's advice and rest for a few days.
Etymology
From Old English hēdan, meaning "to take care of" or "guard" — related to old Germanic words for watching over and protecting something.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for heed
See all rhymes for heed →Frequently asked questions
What does “heed” mean?
The word “heed” means to pay close attention to advice or a warning and take it seriously. In plain terms, to take notice of a warning or piece of advice and actually act on it.
How do you pronounce “heed”?
“Heed” is pronounced HEED (/ˈhiːd/ in IPA).
How do you use “heed” in a sentence?
Here is “heed” used in a sentence: “You should heed your doctor's advice and rest for a few days.”
What part of speech is “heed”?
Depending on how it is used, “heed” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “heed” come from?
The word “heed” comes from Old English. From Old English hēdan, meaning "to take care of" or "guard" — related to old Germanic words for watching over and protecting something.
Is “heed” a common word?
“Heed” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “heed” have?
“Heed” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to pay close attention to advice or a warning and take it seriously.
