First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
attend
verb at·tend \ə-ˈtend\
: to go to and be present at (an event, meeting, etc.)
: to regularly go to (classes, church services, etc.)
: to help or care for (someone, such as a patient)
Full Definition of ATTEND
transitive verb
1
: to pay attention to
2
: to look after : take charge of <campsites…attended by park rangers — Jackson Rivers>
3
a : to go or stay with as a companion, nurse, or servant b : to visit professionally especially as a physician
4
archaic a : to wait for b : to be in store for
5
: to be present with : accompany
6
: to be present at : go to <attend law school>
intransitive verb
1
: to apply oneself <attend to your work>
2
: to apply the mind or pay attention : heed
3
a : to be ready for service <ministers who attend upon the king> b : to be present
See attend defined for English-language learners
See attend defined for kids
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Origin of ATTEND
Middle English, from Anglo-French atendre, from Latin attendere, literally, to stretch to, from ad- + tendere to stretch — more at thin
Related to ATTEND
Rhymes with ATTEND
addend, amend, append, ascend, bartend, befriend, Big Bend, bookend, boyfriend, closed-end, commend, compend, contend, dead end, dead-end, defend, depend, descend, distend, downtrend, emend, expend, extend, fag end, forfend, front-end, girlfriend, Gravesend, headend, high-end, hornblende, impend, intend, Land's End, loose end, low-end, missend, misspend, next friend, no end, offend, on end, Ostend, outspend, perpend, pitchblende, portend, pretend, propend, protend, rear-end, resend, sheet bend, South Bend, split end, stipend, subtend, suspend, tag end, tail end, tight end, top-end, transcend, unbend, unkenned, upend, uptrend, weekend, year-end
ATTENDED Defined for Kids
attend
verb at·tend \ə-ˈtend\
at·tend·edat·tend·ing
Definition of ATTEND for Kids
1
: to go to or be present at <attend school> <attend a party>
2
: to look after : take charge of <The hotel staff attended to my every need.>
3
: to direct attention <attend to business>
4
: to pay attention to <All the children had been attending … to what Mr. Beaver was telling them … — C. S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe>
5
: to go with especially as a servant or companion <Servants attended the king.>
6
: to care for <Nurses attend the sick.>
Medical Dictionary
attend
transitive verb at·tend \ə-ˈtend\
Medical Definition of ATTEND
: to visit or stay with professionally as a physician or nurse
—at·tend·er noun
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