attend

verb

at·​tend ə-ˈtend 

attended; attending; attends

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

Synonyms

• accompany
• chaperone
• chaperon
• companion
• company
• convoy
• escort
• see
• squire

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

Through a series of tastings in London hosted by a master sommelier and attended by masters of wine, Pasquet has become well-connected to the industry elite. —Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 27 Oct. 2024

The event was organized by the pro-Nazi German American Bund and was attended by thousands in the lead-up to World War II. —Louis Casiano, Fox News, 27 Oct. 2024

At this time of year, this means sipping a pumpkin spice latte, watching Gilmore Girls, or attending a bonfire. —Neha Tandon, Travel + Leisure, 27 Oct. 2024

When the Brazilian was racially abused at the Mestalla in Valencia back in May 2023, the ground's lower tier was closed for five matches later reduced to three, while a trio of fans were sentenced to eight months in prison and banned from attending matches there for life. —Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024

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

Kids Definition

attend

verb

at·​tend ə-ˈtend 

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 

: to visit with or care for in a professional capacity

attender noun