attend

verb

at·​tend ə-ˈtend How to pronounce attend (audio)
attended; attending; attends
Synonyms of attendnext

transitive verb

1
: to be present at : to go to
attend a meeting
attend law school
2
: to pay attention to
attend the warning signs
3
: to look after : to take charge of
… campsites … attended by park rangers.Jackson Rivers
4
a
: to go or stay with as a companion, nurse, or servant
ministers who attend the king
b
: to visit professionally especially as a physician
a doctor attending his patients
5
: to be present with : accompany
6
archaic
a
: to wait for
b
: to be in store for

intransitive verb

1
: to direct one's attention : see
used with to
I'll attend to [=deal with] that myself.
2
: to apply oneself
attend to your work
3
: to apply the mind or pay attention : heed
attend to his advice
4
a
: to be ready for service
ministers who attend upon the king
b
: to be present
How many people attended?
5
obsolete : wait, stay
attender noun

Examples of attend in a Sentence

My husband and I will both attend the banquet. How many people attended the baseball game? He won't be attending the conference. How many people will be attending? She attends a school in the city. He'll be attending the university in the fall. I am the first child in my family to attend college. We attend the same church. Each nurse attends 15 patients. A midwife attended the birth.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Cain Clark was attending school virutally and was on track to graduate later this month, a spokesperson for the San Diego Unified School District said. Dennis Romero, NBC news, 19 May 2026 Clark attended an elementary and a middle school in person at the district, but following the pandemic his family enrolled him online schooling full time, Canning said. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2026 Opportunities to attend the Rolling Stone Residency will be available to Rolling Stone Readers as well as for redemption through SkyMiles Experiences, Delta’s platform that gives its loyalty Members access to once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 18 May 2026 Around that same time, Klaus committed suicide and his father did not attend the funeral. Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for attend

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French atendre, from Latin attendere, literally, to stretch to, from ad- + tendere to stretch — more at thin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of attend was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Attend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attend. Accessed 19 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

attend

verb
at·​tend ə-ˈtend How to pronounce attend (audio)
1
a
: to pay attention to
attend my words
b
: to give one's attention
attend to business
2
: to go or stay with especially as a companion or servant
attend the sick
3
: to be present with
a cold attended by fever
4
: to go to or be present at especially to take part or observe
attend a party
attend school
5
: to take charge of : look after
a doorman attending the entrance

Medical Definition

attend

transitive verb
at·​tend ə-ˈtend How to pronounce attend (audio)
: to visit with or care for in a professional capacity
attender noun

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