attend
attend Lexical Profile
attend Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To be present at an event, meeting, or function, or to go regularly to an institution such as a school, university, or church.
"Over two hundred delegates are expected to attend the annual conference in Chicago."
To deal with, handle, or take care of a task, matter, or person requiring assistance (usually followed by 'to').
"The receptionist promised to attend to the customer's inquiry right away."
To direct one's mind, ears, or concentration toward someone or something; to pay close attention or listen carefully (usually followed by 'to').
"Please attend closely to the safety instructions before operating the laboratory equipment."
To accompany, wait on, or occur simultaneously as a natural result or accompaniment of something.
"A team of specialist nurses attended the patient throughout his recovery."
Word Nuance & Usage
When meaning 'to be present at,' 'attend' is transitive and takes no preposition (e.g., 'attend a meeting'), whereas 'attend to' means to deal with or take care of something, and 'attend on/upon' means to serve or wait on someone.
• Rhymes for attend
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in Middle English from Old French 'atendre' (to expect, wait for, pay attention), from Latin 'attendere', meaning literally 'to stretch toward' (from 'ad-' meaning 'to' + 'tendere' meaning 'to stretch'), originally referring to directing one's mind or faculties toward something.