When one wants to express that they paid attention to something, there are several useful synonyms that can be employed. Some of the phrases that can be used instead of "paid attention" include "focused on," "attended to," "concentrated on," "heeded," "listened to," "observed," "noted," "watched," "examined," and "scrutinized." Each of these phrases helps to emphasize different aspects of the act of paying attention, such as concentrating on a specific detail or being attentive to a speaker's words. So instead of always using the same phrase to convey attentiveness, mixing in a variety of synonyms can add depth and nuance to one's communication.