I. re ‧ gard 1 S3 /rɪˈɡɑːd $ -ɑːrd/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: regarder ; ⇨ ↑ regard 2 ]
1 . ADMIRATION/RESPECT [uncountable] respect and admiration for someone or something
regard for
Jan’s regard for his great talent
Burt had high regard for his old law professor, Dr. Finch (=he respected him a lot) .
The voters hold her in high regard (=respect or admire her) .
Teachers are held in low regard in this society (=are not respected or admired) .
2 . ATTENTION/CONSIDERATION [uncountable] formal attention or consideration that is shown towards someone or something
regard for
She has no regard for other people’s feelings.
pay/show regard
One must show proper regard for the law.
little/no/scant regard (for somebody/something)
The present administration has demonstrated little regard for environmental issues.
All students must have access to quality education without regard to wealth or class.
3 . with/in regard to something formal relating to a particular subject:
US foreign policy with regard to Cuba
4 . in this/that regard formal relating to something you have just mentioned:
The company’s problems, in this regard, are certainly not unique.
5 . regards [plural] good wishes – used when sending your good wishes to someone or when ending a short letter or message:
My husband sends his regards.
Hope to see you soon. Regards, Chris
(with) kind/best regards (=used to end a letter in a friendly but rather formal way)
6 . [singular] literary a long look without moving your eyes
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 1)
■ adjectives
▪ high regard
The players have a very high regard for their manager.
▪ low regard
This might explain the low regard in which the President is held.
▪ mutual regard (=which people feel for each other)
There seems to have been a genuine mutual regard between the two leaders.
▪ considerable regard (=fairly high regard)
Eliot had considerable regard for Collingwood.
■ verbs
▪ hold somebody/something in high regard
Doctors are held in high regard by society.
▪ have a high regard for somebody/something
I had the highest regard for him.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ verbs
▪ have no regard for something
Some motorists have no regard for other road users.
▪ have regard to something formal
The court must have particular regard to the factors listed in section 13.
▪ pay regard to something
The architect who designed the building paid too little regard to its function.
▪ show regard for something
He showed great regard for the Mosaic Law and Jewish customs.
■ adjectives
▪ due/proper regard
The aim is to get the job done as cheaply as possible, with due regard to high standards.
▪ little regard (=not enough regard)
He drove himself on, with little regard for his own health.
▪ scant regard (=very little regard)
Should we be exporting arms to countries with scant regard for human rights?
▪ no regard
The decision was implemented with no regard for the families still living on the estate.
II. regard 2 S2 W1 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: regarder 'to look back at, regard' , from garder 'to guard, look at' ]
1 . [not in progressive] to think about someone or something in a particular way
regard somebody/something as something
Paul seemed to regard sex as sinful and immoral.
Edith was widely regarded as (=considered by many people to be) eccentric.
His work is highly regarded (=regarded as very good) by art experts.
2 . formal to look at someone or something, in a particular way:
She stood back and regarded him coldly.
3 . as regards something formal relating to a particular subject – use this when you want to talk or write about a particular subject:
As regards a cure for the disease, very few advances have been made.