attend

verb

at·​tend ə-ˈtend How to pronounce attend (audio)
attended; attending; attends

transitive verb

1
: to be present at : to go to
attend a meeting
attend law school
2
: to pay attention to
attend the warning signs
3
: to look after : to take charge of
… campsites … attended by park rangers.Jackson Rivers
4
a
: to go or stay with as a companion, nurse, or servant
ministers who attend the king
b
: to visit professionally especially as a physician
a doctor attending his patients
5
: to be present with : accompany
6
archaic
a
: to wait for
b
: to be in store for

intransitive verb

1
: to direct one's attention : see
used with to
I'll attend to [=deal with] that myself.
2
: to apply oneself
attend to your work
3
: to apply the mind or pay attention : heed
attend to his advice
4
a
: to be ready for service
ministers who attend upon the king
b
: to be present
How many people attended?
5
obsolete : wait, stay
attender noun

Examples of attend in a Sentence

My husband and I will both attend the banquet. How many people attended the baseball game? He won't be attending the conference. How many people will be attending? She attends a school in the city. He'll be attending the university in the fall. I am the first child in my family to attend college. We attend the same church. Each nurse attends 15 patients. A midwife attended the birth.
Recent Examples on the Web She's decided to attend a historically Black college after experiencing an educational setting where the teachers and students look like her. Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 20 Mar. 2024 Shakil Kamran attended a Salesforce conference in 2017, set on trying to break into tech and transition out of his retail management career, which regularly involved 60-hour weeks and left little time to spend with his son. Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024 In France, Sam Claflin attends a photocall for his series The Count Of Monte Cristo. Stephanie Sengwe, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2024 The setup finds book editor Maddie (Lohan) attending the wedding of her author client and secret crush (Alexander Vlahos) to one of her best friends (Elizabeth Tan). Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024 Schneider recounted Bell attending the sentencing hearing and Peck’s side of the courtroom being filled with supporters. Tatiana Tenreyro, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2024 Some also attend special church services and prayer vigils, or a Good Friday liturgy Friday evening. Marina Johnson, The Indianapolis Star, 19 Mar. 2024 Cheadle added that even attending award shows as an audience member includes some stress. Marianne Garvey, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024 Wallace attends Rex and Margaret Fortune Early College High School in Elk Grove. Marcus D. Smith, Sacramento Bee, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'attend.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French atendre, from Latin attendere, literally, to stretch to, from ad- + tendere to stretch — more at thin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of attend was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near attend

Cite this Entry

“Attend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attend. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

attend

verb
at·​tend ə-ˈtend How to pronounce attend (audio)
1
a
: to pay attention to
attend my words
b
: to give one's attention
attend to business
2
: to go or stay with especially as a companion or servant
attend the sick
3
: to be present with
a cold attended by fever
4
: to go to or be present at especially to take part or observe
attend a party
attend school
5
: to take charge of : look after
a doorman attending the entrance

Medical Definition

attend

transitive verb
at·​tend ə-ˈtend How to pronounce attend (audio)
: to visit with or care for in a professional capacity
attender noun

More from Merriam-Webster on attend

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