Regard means to think about someone or something in a particular way, especially with respect or careful attention. When a teacher regards a student as hardworking, she thinks of that student as someone who puts in real effort. When historians regard the printing press as one of history's most important inventions, they consider it to have changed the world in fundamental ways.

The word carries a sense of thoughtful judgment rather than casual opinion. You might regard your friend as trustworthy because you've seen them keep promises over time. A scientist might regard a new theory with skepticism until she sees more evidence.

Regard can also mean to look at something carefully or steadily, though this meaning is less common today. You might regard a complicated map, studying it to figure out which direction to go.

As a noun, regard means respect or consideration for someone or something. When you show regard for others' feelings, you think about how your actions affect them. Teachers often ask students to have regard for classroom rules. The phrase “with regard to” means “concerning” or “about”: With regard to your question about the homework, it's due Friday.

People sometimes use regards (with an s) at the end of letters or emails as a polite closing, short for “give my regards,” meaning to pass along respect or good wishes.