heed

/hiːd/

Group 15Difficulty 1/3

Definition

(verb)
To pay attention to; to take notice of
GRE

Example in Context

Had regulators heeded the early warnings from whistleblowers, the financial collapse might have been averted or at least mitigated.

Synonyms

listen toobeyfollow

Etymology

To pay careful attention or notice something.

  • heede (Old English) — to pay attention

Memory Aid

👂Sounds like “heed the need

A giant ear SHOUTING 'HEED THE NEED!' while everyone ignores it!

Visual Association

👀A person with oversized ears listening intently, trying to catch every word spoken.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “heed” mean on the GRE?

heed (verb) means “To pay attention to; to take notice of”. Had regulators heeded the early warnings from whistleblowers, the financial collapse might have been averted or at least mitigated.

How to remember “heed” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “heed” sounds like “heed the need”. A giant ear SHOUTING 'HEED THE NEED!' while everyone ignores it!

What are synonyms for “heed”?

Common synonyms: listen to, obey, follow.