heed

Heed is a word in English that functions as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, heed denotes careful attention or consideration, often used in phrases that imply listening or regard for guidance: for example, "take heed" or "pay heed to the warnings." As a verb, heed means to pay attention to or to regard something, and it typically takes a direct object: "heed the warnings," "heed his counsel." The expression "to take heed" is a common idiom that means to be cautious or to consider what has been said.

Usage notes help distinguish common contexts. Heed tends to appear in more formal, admonitory, or literary contexts, including legal, religious, and moral discourse. In everyday speech, speakers often choose synonyms such as pay attention, listen to, or consider. Related forms include heedful, meaning mindful or attentive, and heedless, meaning not paying attention or careless. The latter can describe behavior that ignores warnings or guidance and is often used with a negative sense.

In summary, heed encompasses both the act of paying attention (as a noun) and the action of paying attention to someone or something (as a verb). Its usage spans formal and literary registers, with idiomatic phrases like take heed and pay heed remaining common markers of the word in modern English.