attend

[ uh-tend ]

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.

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 or upon ):

   to attend upon the Queen.

6. to follow; be consequent (usually followed by on or upon ).
7. Obsolete. to wait.

attend

/ əˈtɛnd /

verb

1. to be present at (an event, meeting, etc)
2. whenintr, foll by to to give care; minister
3. whenintr, foll by to 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. intrfoll byto 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

Derived Forms

• atˈtender, noun

Other Words From

• at·tender noun
• at·tending·ly adverb
• well-at·tended adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of attend¹

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”; tend ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of attend¹

C13: from Old French atendre, from Latin attendere to stretch towards, from tendere to extend

Synonym Study

See accompany.

Example Sentences

When Unicef held a consultation workshop in East Asia, Zeng attended as a speaker.

From MIT Technology Review

Patrick Henry cheer, like other school sports, largely went dark, but the school’s junior varsity coach was not eager to shut down a private offseason competition team attended by some students at the Infinity Gymnastics gym in El Cajon.

From Voice of San Diego

While all of BI’s virtual events are free to attend with email registration, they can be monetized in several different ways.

From Digiday

Billington, who attends school with Baxter, said she would continue using TikTok regardless of its owner “as long they don’t change it and turn it into Instagram,” a TikTok rival.

From Fortune

We attended to connect with potential clients who need mobile applications for their businesses.

From TechCrunch

In 1995, Myerson made a point not to attend the 75th anniversary of the Miss America pageant.

From The Daily Beast

Those who are not working on Sunday will almost certainly attend the funeral for Liu.

From The Daily Beast

In neighborhoods such as Harlem, 33 percent of students attend charter schools, a majority of them black or Latino.

From The Daily Beast

“Five of them would attend a show and each one would memorize a certain part of a garment,” said Elia.

From The Daily Beast

A few even noted that they attend Christmas mass with Christian friends.

From The Daily Beast

While Louis was reading these dispatches, he received a summons from Elizabeth, to attend her immediately.

From Project Gutenberg

Full provision is made for Catholics and Nonconformists desiring to attend the services of their respective bodies.

From Project Gutenberg

Will your Majesty be pleased to have them given a goodly number of religious, so that they may attend to their ministries.

From Project Gutenberg

Hedges had to go on his way also, for it was close upon the countess-dowager's dinner-hour, at which ceremony he must attend.

From Project Gutenberg

"Would you like to attend services at the church this evening," said Irene after a time, and when they were again alone.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• follow
• hear
• note
• observe
• watch