attend

Verb

Verb Forms: attended, attending, attends

To be present at an event, meeting, or function.
be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.
- "She attends class regularly"
- "I rarely attend services at my church"
take charge of or deal with
- "I must attend to this matter"
to accompany as a circumstance or follow as a result
- "Menuhin's playing was attended by a 15-minute standing ovation"
work for or be a servant to
- "She attends the old lady in the wheelchair"
give heed (to)
- "The children in the audience attended the recital quietly"
- "They attended to everything he said"
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).
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.
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).
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.
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.
Senses relating to caring for or waiting on someone, or accompanying or being present.
To look after (someone or something); to tend.
Senses relating to caring for or waiting on someone, or accompanying or being present.
Followed by to: to look after someone or something.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Senses relating to directing one's attention.
To listen to (something or someone).
Senses relating to directing one's attention.
To give consideration to (someone or something); to heed, to pay attention, to regard.
Senses relating to directing one's attention.
Often followed by to, upon, or with: to give consideration; to pay attention.
Senses relating to directing one's attention.
Followed by to or unto: to listen.
Senses relating to waiting for something.
To look out or wait for (someone, or something such as a decision or event); to await.
Senses relating to waiting for something.
To expect or look forward to (someone or something).
Senses relating to waiting for something.
Of a thing: to be in store or lie in wait for (someone or something); to await.
Senses relating to waiting for something.
To remain and wait; to abide.
Senses relating to waiting for something.
Followed by for: to expect or look forward.
Senses relating to waiting for something.
Followed by for: of a thing: to be in store or lie in wait.
To intend (something).

Examples

a measure attended with ill effects
Children must attend primary school.
I always attend to my tile rack, looking for the best possible word.
Secretaries attend to correspondence.
Servants attend the king day and night.
Valets attend to their employers’ wardrobes.

Origin / 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.

Synonyms

advert, assist, attend to, give ear, go to, hang, look, pay heed, see, serve, take care, wait on, abide, aid, attend, await, be all ears, behear, bestand, bestead, bide, clock, consider, dance attendance, do, do for, earball, expect, give heed, hark, harken, heed, hold up, keep, lend an ear, let in on, list, listen close, mark, mind, note, notice, pass, pay attention, pick up what someone is putting down, privy, regard, remain, service, stay, take heed, take note, take notice, tarry, tend, wait, wait for, wait upon

Antonyms

miss

Scrabble Score: 7

attend: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
attend: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
attend: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 8

attend: valid Words With Friends Word