heed

1 of 2

verb

ˈhēd How to pronounce heed (audio)
heeded; heeding; heeds
Synonyms of heednext

intransitive verb

: to pay attention

transitive verb

: to give consideration or attention to : mind
heed what he says
heed the call

heed

2 of 2

noun

: attention, notice

Synonyms

Verb

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of heed in a Sentence

Verb It may be possible to desensitize a cat to being petted for extended periods.  … A safer solution is to consistently limit petting time, and to heed the cat's cues that she's had enough. — Cat Watch, August 2008
In-line skating is not for everyone, and even those for whom it is ideally suited can skate into trouble, especially if they fail to heed safety precautions. — Jane E. Brody, New York Times, 2 May 1991
However, he should heed an axiom from the pretelevision age: physician, heal thyself. — George F. Will, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 1986
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Remember to stay informed about weather conditions and heed guidance from local authorities for a secure journey. — Bay Area Weather Report, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2025 The mayors of four sanctuary cities — Boston, Denver, New York and Chicago — who will be appearing before the House Government and Oversight Committee on Wednesday should heed this timeless advice. — Peter Cunningham, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2025
Noun
The threat of cancer is rightfully something to take heed, however, opposing views from TikTok creators with expertise in scientific fields attempted to calm the hysteria and offer a nuanced interpretation of CR’s data. — Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 6 Mar. 2025 Pliny messaged me back promptly (Virgil, take heed) and was an active participant in planning our date. — Maya Layne, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for heed

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

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

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of heed was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing heed

Rhymes for heed

See All Rhymes for heed

Browse Nearby Words

heed
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Cite this Entry

“Heed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heed. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

heed

1 of 2 verb
ˈhēd How to pronounce heed (audio)
1
: to pay attention
2
: to take notice of : mind
heed my words

heed

2 of 2 noun
: attention sense 1, notice

More from Merriam-Webster on heed

Nglish: Translation of heed for Spanish Speakers

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