Heed — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈhēd/

Meaning & Definition of Heed

Heed (verb)

  1. to pay attention
  2. to give consideration or attention to, mind

Heed (noun)

  1. attention, notice

Heed (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a state of being aware

    "took heed of the students' learning styles so as to prepare appropriate lessons"

    similar: advertence, advertency, attention, awareness, cognizance, consciousness, ear, eye, knowledge, mindfulness, note, notice, observance, observation
    related: hyperawareness, hyperconsciousness, advisement, care, concern, consideration, regard, watch, apprehension, discernment, grasp, mind, perception, recognition, thought, understanding
    near: disregard, neglect, obliviousness, unawareness

  2. strict attentiveness to what one is doing

    "pay heed to what you're doing with that knife while you're talking"

    similar: care, carefulness, closeness, conscientiousness, heedfulness, meticulosity, meticulousness, pains, scrupulousness
    related: advertence, advertency, attention, concentration, focus, observance, observation, alertness, mindfulness, vigilance, watchfulness, dutifulness, irreproachability, irreproachableness, punctiliousness, responsibility, bother, effort, painstaking, trouble, exactness, particularity, precision
    opposite: heedlessness, inattentiveness, negligence
    near: inadvertence, inadvertency, inattention, inobservance

Heed (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to take notice of and be guided by

    "if we had heeded the ranger's advice, we might not have gotten lost"

    similar: follow, listen (to), mind, note, observe, regard, watch
    related: consider, contemplate, mull, ponder, weigh, comply (with), conform (to), keep, obey, respect, attend (to), hark (to), hear, hearken (to), mark, notice, see
    opposite: disregard, ignore, tune out
    near: brush (aside or off), discount, dismiss, gloss (over), gloze (over), neglect, pass over, pooh-pooh, scorn, shrug off, defy, flout, slight, snub

  2. to pay attention especially through the act of hearing

    "that boy never heeds when I caution him about running with his shoelaces untied"

    similar: attend, hark, harken, hear, hearken, listen, mind, prick up one's ears
    opposite: ignore, tune out
    near: discount, disregard

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Heed

The most common words with a similar meaning to Heed:

advertence, advertency, attention, awareness, cognizance, consciousness, ear, eye, knowledge, mindfulness, note, notice, observance, observation, care, carefulness, closeness, conscientiousness, heedfulness, meticulosity, meticulousness, pains, scrupulousness, follow, listen (to), mind, observe, regard, watch, attend, hark, harken, hear, hearken, listen, prick up one's ears

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Heed

Words with the opposite meaning of Heed:

heedlessness, inattentiveness, negligence, disregard, ignore, tune out

Related Words for Heed

hyperawareness, hyperconsciousness, advisement, concern, consideration, apprehension, discernment, grasp, perception, recognition, thought, understanding, concentration, focus, alertness, vigilance, watchfulness, dutifulness, irreproachability, irreproachableness, punctiliousness, responsibility, bother, effort, painstaking, trouble, exactness, particularity, precision, consider

Near Antonyms of Heed

neglect, obliviousness, unawareness, inadvertence, inadvertency, inattention, inobservance, brush (aside or off), discount, dismiss, gloss (over), gloze (over), pass over, pooh-pooh, scorn, shrug off, defy, flout, slight, snub

Word Forms of Heed

Inflections: heeded, heeding, heeds

Origin & Etymology of Heed

Middle English, from Old English hēdan; akin to Old High German huota guard, Old English hōd hood

First known use: before 12th centuryi

Words & Phrases Containing Heed

pay heed to, take heed of

Frequently Asked Questions about Heed

What does "Heed" mean?

"Heed" means to pay attention. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to pay attention. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Heed"?

Other words for "Heed" include advertence, advertency, attention, awareness, cognizance, consciousness, ear and eye. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Heed" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Heed"?

There are 80 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Heed". Common alternatives include advertence, advertency, attention, awareness, cognizance, consciousness, ear, eye, knowledge and mindfulness.

What is the opposite of "Heed"?

Antonyms of "Heed" include heedlessness, inattentiveness, negligence, disregard, ignore and tune out. Near antonyms include neglect, obliviousness, unawareness and inadvertence.

How do you use "Heed" in a sentence?

Examples of "Heed" in a sentence: "took heed of the students' learning styles so as to prepare appropriate lessons"; "pay heed to what you're doing with that knife while you're talking"; "if we had heeded the ranger's advice, we might not have gotten lost".

Is "Heed" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Heed" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Heed"?

"Heed" is pronounced /ˈhēd/.

What is the origin of the word "Heed"?

"Heed" comes from Middle English, from Old English hēdan; akin to Old High German huota guard, Old English hōd hood. First known use: before 12th centuryi.