attention

noun at·ten·tion \ə-ˈten(t)-shən; sense 4 often (ə-)ˌten(ch)-ˈhət\

: the act or power of carefully thinking about, listening to, or watching someone or something

: notice, interest, or awareness

: special care or treatment

Full Definition of ATTENTION

a : the act or state of applying the mind to something

b : a condition of readiness for such attention involving especially a selective narrowing or focusing of consciousness and receptivity

: observation, notice; especially : consideration with a view to action <a problem requiring prompt attention>

a : an act of civility or courtesy especially in courtship <she welcomed his attentions>

b : sympathetic consideration of the needs and wants of others : attentiveness

: a position assumed by a soldier with heels together, body erect, arms at the sides, and eyes to the front —often used as a command

— at·ten·tion·al \-ˈten(t)-sh(ə-)nəl\ adjective

See attention defined for English-language learners

See attention defined for kids

Origin of ATTENTION

Middle English attencioun, from Latin attention-, attentio, from attendere

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ATTENTION

Synonyms: absorption, concentration, engrossment, enthrallment, immersion

Antonyms: inattention

Rhymes with ATTENTION

dimension, high-tension, Vincentian

ATTENTION Defined for Kids

attention

noun at·ten·tion \ə-ˈten-shən\

Definition of ATTENTION for Kids

: the act or the power of fixing the mind on something : careful listening or watching <Pay attention to what happens next.>

: notice, interest, or awareness <attract attention>

: careful thinking about something so as to be able to take action on it <This matter requires immediate attention.>

: special care or treatment <His scrape did not require medical attention.>

: an act of kindness or politeness <His hospitable attentions were brief … being confined to a shake of a hand … — Washington Irving, “Sleepy Hollow”>

: the way a soldier stands with the body stiff and straight, heels together, and arms at the sides

Medical Dictionary

attention

noun at·ten·tion \ə-ˈten-chən\

Medical Definition of ATTENTION

: the act or state of attending : the application of the mind to any object of sense or thought

a : an organismic condition of selective awareness or perceptual receptivity; specifically : the complex of neuromuscular adjustments that permit maximum excitability or responsiveness to a given class of stimuli b : the process of focusing consciousness to produce greater vividness and clarity of certain of its contents relative to others

—at·ten·tion·al \-ˈtench-nəl, -ˈten-chən-^əl\ adjective