regard
regard — verb
1. to hold a particular opinion about someone or something, based on how you see th
to hold a particular opinion about someone or something, based on how you see their qualities, character, or value
Many people regard Nkechi as one of the best young doctors at the city hospital.
regard + as + noun phrase for professional assessment
The judge regarded the fingerprint evidence as too weak to support the case.
Imran regards his older sister as a role model who taught him to work hard.
regard + as + noun for personal admiration
Yuna's classmates regard her ideas with great interest during group discussions.
regard + with + noun for attitude toward ideas
Sora is regarded by the whole team as the most honest person in the office.
passive: be regarded as + superlative
- regard as
- regard with
- highly regarded
- widely regarded
- generally regarded
- consider
more neutral and common; can be used with or without 'as' ('consider him a friend' / 'consider him as a friend')
- view
emphasizes personal perspective; always takes 'as' ('view someone as a threat')
- deem
more formal and official; can omit 'as' ('deem it necessary')
- see
informal; often used with 'as' ('see her as a leader')
- disregard
to ignore or pay no attention to
Grammar Patterns
regard + object + as + noun/adjective
regard + object + with + noun
be regarded as + noun/adjective
Usage Note
Frequently used in the passive structure 'be regarded as'. When active, the direct object is followed by 'as' plus a noun or adjective, or by 'with' plus a noun describing the attitude.
Common Mistakes
2. to fix your eyes on someone or something in a slow, careful way, often showing a
to fix your eyes on someone or something in a slow, careful way, often showing a particular feeling through your expression
Daichi regarded the old black-and-white photograph with a quiet sense of sadness.
regard + with + emotion noun for thoughtful observation
Isabela regarded the strange footprint in the garden mud for nearly a minute.
regard + time duration for careful inspection
The neighbour's cat regarded the new sofa with deep suspicion before climbing onto it.
Christopher regarded his father's face for a long time, searching for any sign of anger.
regard + time phrase + purpose clause
- regard carefully
- regard intently
- regard with suspicion
- regard with admiration
- gaze
more common in everyday language; implies a longer, softer look
- stare
suggests a harder, more fixed look, often with surprise or rudeness
- contemplate
suggests looking while thinking deeply; more intellectual
- ignore
to deliberately not look at or pay attention to
Grammar Patterns
regard + object
regard + object + adverb/prepositional phrase
Usage Note
More formal or literary than 'look at' or 'stare'. Often paired with an adverb or a prepositional phrase that describes the quality or purpose of the gaze.
Common Mistakes
3. to be connected with a particular subject or issue that someone is talking or wr
to be connected with a particular subject or issue that someone is talking or writing about
Regarding your question about the school trip, Noa emailed all parents this morning.
regarding + noun phrase to introduce a topic
The manager had nothing new to say regarding the budget cuts announced last week.
As regards the safety of the new machine, Gabriela prepared a full report for the board.
as regards + noun phrase for formal topic introduction
The letter regarding the change in health insurance terms arrived yesterday afternoon.
- as regards
- regarding the matter
- concerning
similar formality; used both as preposition and adjective
- about
much less formal, appropriate for everyday conversation
- with respect to
even more formal; common in legal and business writing
Grammar Patterns
as regards + noun phrase
regarding + noun phrase
Usage Note
Used chiefly in the fixed phrase 'as regards' or as the present participle 'regarding' serving as a preposition. Both are formal; 'about' is the less formal alternative in everyday speech.
Common Mistakes
This phrase is used to talk about a particular person or thing.
As regards your question, we will discuss it tomorrow.
Mia had no complaints as regards the hotel service.
regard — noun
1. a feeling that someone or something is important and deserves your good opinion
a feeling that someone or something is important and deserves your good opinion and respect
The nurses hold Dr. Okafor in high regard for his patience and kindness.
hold someone in high regard — common idiom for deep respect
Rania's careful work on the project earned her the regard of the entire department.
earn the regard of — respect gained through action
Students have great regard for Professor Chen because she listens to every question.
have great regard for — personal admiration
The old library was held in such high regard that the city voted to protect it.
be held in high regard — passive construction
Sven showed little regard for the traffic rules when he drove through the red light.
little regard for — negative form meaning disrespect
- high regard
- great regard
- hold in regard
- earn regard
- mutual regard
- respect
the most common alternative; similar meaning but slightly broader in use
- admiration
emphasizes approval of someone's qualities or achievements more strongly
- esteem
more formal; often appears in 'hold in high esteem'
- approval
focuses on a positive judgment of someone's actions rather than their worth
- disrespect
lack of respect; the opposite of regard
- contempt
a strong feeling that someone is worthless or inferior
Grammar Patterns
hold + noun + in + adj + regard
have/show + adj + regard + for + noun
earn/win + the regard of + noun
Common Mistakes
2. used in fixed phrases such as 'with regard to' to connect what you are saying to
used in fixed phrases such as 'with regard to' to connect what you are saying to a specific topic that you want to discuss
With regard to your job application, Liam will call you next week to arrange an interview.
with regard to — formal phrase for introducing a topic
The company has made no changes in regard to the holiday schedule for next year.
Isabela asked several detailed questions with regard to the safety of the new machine.
Noa's speech offered nothing new with regard to the government's health care plan.
with regard to in negative statements
- with regard to
- in regard to
- concerning
a direct preposition with the same formality
- about
less formal, appropriate for everyday conversation
Grammar Patterns
with regard to + noun phrase
in regard to + noun phrase
Usage Note
Only used in the fixed prepositional phrases 'with regard to' and 'in regard to' (or the slightly less common 'with regards to'). These are formal; 'about' or 'regarding' are appropriate in less formal contexts.
Common Mistakes
3. a particular part or feature of a situation that you are thinking about or discu
a particular part or feature of a situation that you are thinking about or discussing
The new software is faster and cheaper, and in this regard it is a big improvement.
in this regard — referring back to a specific point
Rania has years of sales experience, and in that regard she is the best for the job.
in that regard — referring to a previously mentioned aspect
The two proposals differ in several regards, including the budget and the project timeline.
in several regards — plural form for multiple aspects
In every regard, Gabriela's design was better than the original plan for the new library.
in every regard — all-encompassing aspect
- in this regard
- in that regard
- in every regard
- in many regards
Grammar Patterns
in + determiner + regard(s)
Usage Note
Typically follows 'in' with a determiner (this, that, every, many, several). The plural 'regards' is used after 'in many/several regards' or 'in all respects'. This is a formal usage; 'in this respect' or 'in this way' are less formal alternatives.
Common Mistakes
4. kind words or good wishes that you express to someone as a sign of friendship or
kind words or good wishes that you express to someone as a sign of friendship or respect, often through a third person or at the end of a letter
Please give my regards to your parents when you see them this weekend.
give my regards to — personal message formula
Christopher sends his warm regards to everyone in the old neighbourhood.
send warm regards — friendly message
The email from Dr. Suzuki ended with the words 'Kind regards, Dr. Suzuki.'
kind regards — formal letter/email closing
Imran asked me to pass on his regards to the team after his office move.
pass on regards — indirect message delivery
- give regards
- send regards
- kind regards
- warm regards
- best regards
- pass on regards
- greetings
more general; can be used alone ('Greetings from Tokyo')
- best wishes
common in both spoken and written messages
- compliments
more formal; 'give my compliments to the chef'
Grammar Patterns
give + possessive + regards + to + noun
send + possessive + regards
[adjective] + regards (letter closing)
Usage Note
Always plural in this sense. Common in letter and email closings ('Best regards', 'Kind regards', 'Warm regards'). 'Give my regards to...' is a friendly way of asking someone to pass on your good wishes to another person.
Common Mistakes
5. a long, steady way of looking at someone or something, often with a particular e
a long, steady way of looking at someone or something, often with a particular emotion shown through the eyes
Sven cast a suspicious regard at the large package that was left on the porch.
cast a... regard at — literary pattern for giving a look
Yuna's regard followed the bird as it flew across the garden and into the trees.
regard as active subject — 'her regard followed'
There was a quiet warmth in his regard that made Imran feel welcome in the room.
The professor fixed his regard on the student and waited for an answer.
fix one's regard on — intense, focused looking
- a long regard
- a steady regard
- cast a regard
- fix one's regard
Grammar Patterns
a + adj + regard
possessive + regard
Usage Note
Literary or formal. Less common than 'gaze' or 'stare' in everyday speech. Often used in narrative writing to describe a character's look with emotional or descriptive qualities.
Common Mistakes
6. careful attention to someone's health, comfort, or general well-being, especiall
careful attention to someone's health, comfort, or general well-being, especially in a responsible or protective way
The nanny showed proper regard for the children's safety at the public playground.
show regard for — caring attention to needs
The clinic has great regard for patients who cannot afford expensive treatment.
have regard for — institutional care for vulnerable people
Daichi jumped into the frozen river with no regard for his own safety.
with no regard for — reckless, selfless action
Parents expect the school to have proper regard for every child's emotional well-being.
have regard for + well-being — protective concern
- proper regard
- great regard
- no regard for
- little regard for
- without regard to
- care
more common in everyday language; broader meaning
- consideration
emphasizes thoughtful attention to someone's needs or feelings
- concern
focuses on worry or interest in someone's well-being
- attention
general focus on something; less emotional than 'regard'
Grammar Patterns
have/show + regard + for + noun
with/without + regard + for + noun
no/little + regard + for + noun
Usage Note
Often appears in negative constructions ('no regard for', 'without regard to') or with adjectives like 'proper', 'great', 'little'. Common in institutional or formal contexts discussing responsibility and care.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- regardingprepositionB2
- regardlessadverb / adjectiveB2
- disregardverbB2
- disregardnounB2
- regardfuladjectiveC1
- regardedadjectiveB1
- self-regardnounC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All five words express forming an opinion about someone or something, but they differ in formality and focus. 'Regard' often carries a personal, sometimes emotional judgment and is typically followed by 'as' ('regard someone as a friend'). 'Consider' is more neutral and rational — it suggests careful thought and can be used with or without 'as' ('consider the options' or 'consider him a genius'). 'View' emphasizes perspective: you see something from a particular angle ('view the problem from a different angle'). 'See' is the most informal and conversational ('I see her as a leader'). 'Deem' is formal and official, often found in legal or academic writing ('the court deemed the contract valid'). In everyday conversation, 'consider' and 'see' are safest. In formal writing, 'regard' and 'deem' fit better. Example: 'The committee regarded the proposal as risky' conveys a judgment. 'The committee considered the proposal carefully' suggests deliberation. 'The committee deemed the proposal unsuitable' announces a formal conclusion.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'regard' entered English from Old French 'regarder', meaning 'to look at' or 'to consider'. The French word was built from 're-' (an intensifier) and 'garder' (to look, to keep watch), which itself came from a Germanic root '*wardōn', meaning 'to guard' or 'to pay attention to'. The original meaning in English was physical — looking at something with the eyes. Over time, the meaning moved inward: from physically looking at something to mentally considering it, and then to the emotional sense of holding someone in high esteem. Today, the physical sense (verb 2 and noun 5) survives mainly in formal and literary English, while the mental and emotional senses dominate everyday use. The phrase 'as regards' and the preposition 'regarding' preserve the original connection to directing attention toward a topic.