Hearkened is defined as to listen or pay attention to something. There are a number of synonyms for this word, including heeded, listened, obeyed, attended, tuned in, picked up, followed, complied with, and minded. Each of these synonyms describes a different aspect of listening actively and with attention. Heeded implies a specific response to what was heard, while obeyed suggests an active response that incorporates action. Attended suggests a sustained focus on what was heard, while tuned in implies a more passive engagement. Picked up implies a particularly acute sense of hearing, while followed suggests a deliberate tracking of what was heard. Complied with and minded both imply a willingness to act on what was heard.