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# heed

verb (heed, heeds, heeded, heeding); noun (heed; uncountable)

«heed» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition and Early Modern English — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (formal) To heed advice or a warning is to pay attention to it and do what it says. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/heed/#m1)
2. Heed (noun) means attention: «take heed», «pay no heed». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/heed/#m2)

### In the lessons

A slightly old-fashioned or formal word in stories, fables and safety messages: «Heed the warning signs». It tells the reader whether a character listened to good advice. Phrases: «heed the warning», «take heed», «pay heed to», «pay no heed».

### Examples

- The sailors did not heed the storm warning. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/heed/#x1)
- Heed your teacher's advice and check your work. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/heed/#x2)
- Take heed: the ice is thin! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/heed/#x3)
- The boy who cried wolf found that no one heeded him. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/heed/#x4)
- She paid no heed to the rude comments. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/heed/#x5)
- Heed the signs and keep away from the cliff edge. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/heed/#x6)
- 'You did not heed my words,' he said gravely. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/heed/#x7)

### Note

Formal; everyday: «listen to», «pay attention to». Adjective: «heedless» (careless), as in «heedless of danger». «Heedful» is rare.

## In Jewish tradition

"Take heed" means be careful, watch out. It is an old expression.

**Interpretation.** "Take heed to thyself" is a warning to keep the commandments. The rabbis often use this kind of verse to teach care in obeying the law.

### Examples

- Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt-offerings in every place that thou seest; (Torah DEU.12.13, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/heed/#x1)
- Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon thy land. (Torah DEU.12.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/heed/#x2)
- And he answered and said: 'Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD putteth in my mouth?' (Torah NUM.23.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/heed/#x3)
- Nay; but He would give heed unto me. (Writings JOB.23.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/heed/#x4)
- By taking heed thereto according to Thy word. (Writings PSA.119.9, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/heed/#x5)
- Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God. (Prophets JOS.23.11, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/heed/#x6)

### Note

Formal; everyday: «listen to», «pay attention to». Adjective: «heedless» (careless), as in «heedless of danger». «Heedful» is rare.

## Early Modern English

### Meaning

To pay attention to something and act on it, such as a warning or a command. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/H/heed/#m1)

### Then and now

Today we say "pay attention" or "listen". The sense is the same in these sentences, but "take heed to" is an old way of saying "be careful".

### Examples

- Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt-offerings in every place that thou seest; (Torah DEU.12.13, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/H/heed/#x1)
- But nobody heeded what he said. (Celtic Fairy Tales) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/H/heed/#x2)
- Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon thy land. (Torah DEU.12.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/H/heed/#x3)

### Note

Today: attention.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «heed» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/heed/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«heed» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/heed.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «heed» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/heed/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«heed» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/heed.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «heed» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/H/heed/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«heed» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/emode/w/heed.html) on Mova free.