What does "attend" mean?
Senses relating to caring for or waiting on someone, or accompanying or being present.; To care for (someone requiring attention); specifically, of a doctor, nurse, etc.: to provide professional care to (someone).
Attend
/əˈtɛnd/ verb
verb ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Senses relating to caring for or waiting on someone, or accompanying or being present.; To care for (someone requiring attention); specifically, of a doctor, nurse, etc.: to provide professional care to (someone).
- Grammar: attend is listed as verb.
- Nearest alternatives: go to, accompanied, accompanied group, accompanies.
- Useful contrasts: given space, intentional disregard, slight influence.
- Usage evidence: You should attend to your own business.
How to use "attend"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "attend" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "attend" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "attend" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "attend" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "attend" is acting as verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "go to" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "attend", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Verb
- 1 Senses relating to caring for or waiting on someone, or accompanying or being present.; To care for (someone requiring attention); specifically, of a doctor, nurse, etc.: to provide professional care to (someone). transitive
"The fift [beadsman] had charge ſick perſons to attend, / And comfort thoſe, in point of death vvhich lay; […]"
- 2 give heed (to) wordnet
- 3 Senses relating to caring for or waiting on someone, or accompanying or being present.; To wait on (someone or their instructions) as an attendant, servant, etc.; also (specifically of a gentleman-in-waiting or lady-in-waiting to a member of royalty), to accompany (someone) in order to assist or wait upon them; to escort. transitive
"Servants attend the king day and night."
- 4 work for, or be a servant to wordnet
- 5 Senses relating to caring for or waiting on someone, or accompanying or being present.; To be present at (an event or place) in order to take part in some action or proceedings; also, to regularly go to (an event or place). transitive
"Children must attend primary school."
Show 22 more definitions
- 6 take charge of or deal with wordnet
- 7 Senses relating to caring for or waiting on someone, or accompanying or being present.; To take action with respect to (someone, or something such as a concern, problem, or task); to deal with, to handle. transitive
- 8 be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc. wordnet
- 9 Senses relating to caring for or waiting on someone, or accompanying or being present.; Of a (chiefly immaterial) thing: to be consequent to or present with (someone or something); to accompany. transitive
"a measure attended with ill effects"
- 10 to accompany as a circumstance or follow as a result wordnet
- 11 Senses relating to caring for or waiting on someone, or accompanying or being present.; To look after (someone or something); to tend. archaic, obsolete, transitive
"They [plate and jewels] are in a Trunke / Attended by my men: I vvill make bold / To ſend them to you, onely for this night: […]"
- 12 Senses relating to caring for or waiting on someone, or accompanying or being present.; Followed by to: to look after someone or something. intransitive
"Valets attend to their employers’ wardrobes."
- 13 Senses relating to caring for or waiting on someone, or accompanying or being present.; To be ready to wait upon someone or their instructions as an attendant, servant, etc.; also (followed by on or upon), to accompany someone in order to assist or wait upon them. intransitive
"[H]e entertained a gard of three thovvſand about him, beſides a band of young gentlemen of the order of knightes that attended alvvayes upon his perſone ready at commaundement, vvhom he called the garde againſt the Senate."
- 14 Senses relating to caring for or waiting on someone, or accompanying or being present.; Followed by at: to go to and be present at a place for some purpose; also (obsolete), followed by on: to be present at and take part in an event. intransitive
"He died (according to Hermippas) at Piſa, embracing his ſon, victor in the Olympick games, of the cæſtus, the vveakneſſe of his age overcome vvith exceſſe of joy; all vvho vvere preſent at the great aſſembly attended on his funeralls, […]"
- 15 Senses relating to caring for or waiting on someone, or accompanying or being present.; Followed by to: to take action with respect to someone or something; to deal with. intransitive
"Secretaries attend to correspondence."
- 16 Senses relating to caring for or waiting on someone, or accompanying or being present.; Followed by on or upon: of a (chiefly immaterial) thing: to be consequent on or present with. intransitive
"But I aſſeſt the gods, your full conſent, / Gaue vvings to my propenſion, and cut off / All feares attending on ſo dire a proiect, […]"
- 17 Senses relating to directing one's attention.; To listen to (something or someone). archaic, transitive
"Pyrocles minde was all thius while so fixed upon another devotion, that he no more attentively marked his friends discourse, then […] the diligent pilot in a dangerous tempest doth attend the unskilful words of a passinger: […]"
- 18 Senses relating to directing one's attention.; To give consideration to (someone or something); to heed, to pay attention, to regard. obsolete, transitive
"If thou attendeſt thy Philosophy, I am glad of it, for that in truth is to be in health. VVithout it the minde is ſicke, and the bodie alſo notvvithſtanding it be ſtrong and able: for it is no othervviſe healthie then as a man might ſay, the bodie of one that is madde and troubled vvith the frenſie."
- 19 Senses relating to directing one's attention.; Often followed by to, upon, or with: to give consideration; to pay attention. intransitive
"Wherfore ye muſt needs be ſubiect [to rulers], not onely for wrath, but alſo for conſcience ſake. For, for this cauſe pay you tribute alſo: for they are Gods ministers, attending continually vpon this very thing."
- 20 Senses relating to directing one's attention.; Followed by to or unto: to listen. archaic, intransitive
"Thoſe Vnckles vvhich you vvant, vvere dangerous, / Your Grace attended to their ſugred vvords, / But lookt not on the poiſon of their hearts: […]"
- 21 Senses relating to waiting for something.; To look out or wait for (someone, or something such as a decision or event); to await. archaic, obsolete, transitive
"Ægyptian ingenuity vvas more unſatisfied, contriving their bodies in ſvveet conſiſtences, to attend the return of their ſouls. But all vvas vanity, feeding the vvinde, and folly."
- 22 Senses relating to waiting for something.; To expect or look forward to (someone or something). archaic, obsolete, transitive
"Yet ſatteſt thou an idle looker on, / And glad attendeſt vvhich ſide vvonne or loſt: […]"
- 23 Senses relating to waiting for something.; Of a thing: to be in store or lie in wait for (someone or something); to await. archaic, figuratively, obsolete, transitive
"To him, I ſay, vvho hath a proſpect of the different State of perfect Happineſs or Miſery that attends all Men after this Life, depending on their Behaviour here, the meaſures of Good and Evil, that govern his choice, are mightily changed."
- 24 Senses relating to waiting for something.; To remain and wait; to abide. archaic, intransitive, obsolete
"[…] God knocketh at the doore of our hearts, but vvorketh nothing in our hearts, till vve firſt of our ſelues aſſent to let him in. He attendeth till vve open him the gates, and then he vvith his heauenly gifts vvill enter in; […]"
- 25 Senses relating to waiting for something.; Followed by for: to expect or look forward. archaic, intransitive, obsolete, rare
- 26 Senses relating to waiting for something.; Followed by for: of a thing: to be in store or lie in wait. archaic, figuratively, intransitive, obsolete
- 27 To intend (something). obsolete
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"You should attend to your own business."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "attend"?
Common synonyms include: go to, accompanied, accompanied group, accompanies, accompany, accompany.
How do you use "attend" in a sentence?
You should attend to your own business.
How do you pronounce "attend"?
Pronounced /əˈtɛnd/.
Etymology
PIE word *h₂éd From Middle English attenden, atenden (“to devote oneself (to a task, etc.); to pay attention to (something), to look after; to consider (something); to expect or look forward to (something); to intend to do (something); to help or serve (someone), attend upon; to take care of (something)”), from Old French atendre (“to await, wait for; to expect; to intend”), from Latin attendere, adtendere (“to pay attention to, attend; to direct or turn toward”), from ad- (“prefix meaning ‘to, towards’”) + tendō (“to direct one’s course; to extend, stretch; to exert, strive”). Doublet of attempt and tend.