attend

American  

[uh-tend] / əˈtɛnd /

verb (used with object)

1. to be present at.

   to attend a lecture; to attend church.

2. to go with as a concomitant or result; accompany.

   Fever may attend a cold. Success attended her hard work.

3. to take care of; minister to; devote one's services to.

   The nurse attended the patient daily.

4. to wait upon; accompany as a companion or servant.

   The retainers attended their lord.

5. to take charge of; watch over; look after; tend; guard.

   to attend one's health.

6. to listen to; give heed to.

7. Archaic. to wait for; expect.

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verb (used without object)

1. to take care or charge.

   to attend to a sick person.

2. to apply oneself.

   to attend to one's work.

3. to pay attention; listen or watch attentively; direct one's thought; pay heed.

   to attend to a speaker.

4. to be present.

   She is a member but does not attend regularly.

5. to be present and ready to give service; wait (usually followed by on orupon ).

   to attend upon the Queen.

6. to follow; be consequent (usually followed by on orupon ).

7. Obsolete. to wait.

attend British  

/ əˈtɛnd /

verb

1. to be present at (an event, meeting, etc)

2. to give care; minister

3. to pay attention; listen

4. (tr; often passive) to accompany or follow

   a high temperature attended by a severe cough

5. (intr; foll by on or upon) to follow as a consequence (of)

6. to devote one's time; apply oneself

   to attend to the garden

7. (tr) to escort or accompany

8. (intr; foll by on or upon) to wait (on); serve; provide for the needs (of)

   to attend on a guest

9. archaic (tr) to wait for; expect

10. obsolete (intr) to delay

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Related Words

See accompany.

Other Word Forms

• attender noun
• attendingly adverb
• well-attended adjective

Etymology

Origin of attend

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English atenden, from Anglo-French, Old French atendre, from Latin attendere “to bend to, notice,” from at- at- + tendere “to stretch, extend, proceed”; cf. tend ¹

Explanation

The verb attend means to be present, to listen, or give care or attention to. You can attend your family reunion, attend to a project you've been ignoring, or attend to your teacher's voice. When you use attend as "pay attention" or "take care of," it's followed by "to." When you use attend as in "attend a party," you don't. If you attend a political rally, you'll want to attend to what the politicians have to say. When you take attendance, you are checking which students have chosen to attend class, i.e. who is in attendance.

Example Sentences

Charles will lay a wreath late Thursday morning at Arlington National Cemetery just outside Washington, then attend a "block party" to mark 250 years since American independence from Britain.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

Though two of her grandparents died in Haiti in the last month, she couldn’t justify traveling to the island nation to attend their funerals out of concern for her and her family’s safety.

From Salon • Apr. 30, 2026

When they started asking to attend mainstream school, she realised she needed to get help.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt, stars of the fashion extravaganza “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” may also attend the gala.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026

A woman poured ashes into a mortar and pounded them as she called the names of Vatete's relatives who lived too far away to attend the funeral.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer

Related Words

• follow
• hear
• note
• observe
• watch