verb
heed
HEED
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
Word Forms
heeded past tense, heeds singular
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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.