Meaning & use
regard
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Meanings
verbtransitiveformal
To have a particular opinion of someone or something, or to think of them in a certain way.
Grammar: Takes an object plus 'as': regard her as a friend. Without 'as' it is less common and more formal.
Patterns
- regard someone as something
- regard something with something
- be regarded as something
Most people regard her as the best violinist in the country.
He regarded the offer with suspicion.
The idea is widely regarded as dangerous.
noununcountable
A feeling of respect, admiration or esteem for someone or something.
Grammar: Usually used without 'a' and followed by 'for': high regard for her work.
Patterns
- regard for someone
- hold someone in high regard
I have great regard for her honesty.
The doctor was held in high regard by his patients.
He shows no regard for other people's feelings.
noununcountableformal
Attention or careful thought given to something, such as a rule or a person's needs.
Grammar: Often appears as 'with regard to' or 'without regard for'.
Patterns
- with regard to something
- without regard for something
- in this regard
She drove without regard for the speed limit.
With regard to your question, the answer is no.
The company has done well in this regard.
verbtransitiveliterary
To look at someone or something steadily, often with a particular expression.
Grammar: Takes an object: regard the stranger coldly. Rare in everyday speech.
Patterns
- regard someone with something
The cat regarded the visitor with mild curiosity.
She regarded him in silence for a long moment.
The judge regarded the witness over his glasses.
Word forms
| third person singular | regards |
|---|---|
| past tense | regarded |
| past participle | regarded |
| -ing form | regarding |
| plural (noun) | regards |
Common combinations
- high regard
- The professor is held in high regard by her students.
- with regard to
- I am writing with regard to your recent order.
- regard as
- Many regard the novel as a masterpiece.
- in this regard
- The school is behind others in this regard.
- have regard for
- A good manager has regard for the needs of the team.
- disregard
- He showed total disregard for the safety rules.
Synonyms and how they differ
- consider
- Consider can take a direct object and adjective without 'as', so it feels plainer than regard, which often needs 'as'.
- esteem
- Esteem is a more formal noun for deep admiration, while regard can also be neutral or mean attention.
- respect
- Respect is the everyday word for admiration, while regard sounds more formal and can be mild.
- view
- View is more casual and suggests personal opinion, whereas regard implies a settled way of thinking about something.
Opposites
Word family
- regarding preposition
- about, concerning
- regardless adverb
- despite everything; without paying attention to
- disregard verb
- to ignore something or treat it as unimportant
- regards noun
- friendly wishes sent to someone, as in 'give her my regards'
Commonly confused: regard or regards vs regarding?
regard vs regards vs regarding
Regards means good wishes or opinions, while regarding is a preposition meaning about, so 'regarding your email' is correct but 'regards your email' is informal.
Practice
Which preposition completes the sentence? 'The team has great regard ___ its coach.'
Choose one answer.
Regard in the sense of respect is followed by 'for'. 'To' is tempting because of 'with regard to', which is a different fixed phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “regard”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.