attendance

noun

at·​ten·​dance ə-ˈten-dən(t)s 

1

: the act or fact of attending something or someone

a physician in attendance

Attendance at the meeting is mandatory.

2

a

: the persons or number of persons attending something

Attendance at the soccer games has been increasing.

also : an account of persons attending

The teacher took attendance [=made a record of who was present] before starting class.

b

: the number of times a person attends

a student who has perfect attendance [=a student who has been present at every class]

see also:

dance attendance

Examples of attendance in a Sentence

The team wants to double attendance at its games this season.

Attendance is down so far this season.

Museum attendances in the city have been increasing in recent years.

Her grades are good, but how's her attendance?

Recent Examples on the Web

The zoo also recently renovated its orangutan habitat and is working to recover from attendance declines during the COVID-19 pandemic, a widespread problem for many similar organizations. — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2026

The musical is still commanding high attendance, though its grosses have gradually fallen from the highs of 2025. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2026

Al-Houcine Baali, another pro-Morocco Sahrawi who took part in the Green March in 1975 and was wearing his attendance medal, said that the peacekeeping mission had done little to resolve the conflict. — ABC News, 6 Nov. 2026

In Windham, in Eastern Connecticut — which also has a majority-Latino student body — attendance during the first 10 days of school was actually 2% higher than the same period last year, according to District Superintendent Iris Gomero. — Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 6 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see attend

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing attendance

• attendance officer
• dance attendance
• in attendance
• take attendance

Rhymes for attendance

• ascendance
• dependance
• dependence
• transcendence
• interdependence
• superintendence
• tendance

Kids Definition

attendance

noun

at·​ten·​dance ə-ˈten-dən(t)s 

1

: the act of attending

2

a

: the number of persons attending

b

: the number of times a person attends

perfect attendance

Medical Definition

attendance

noun

at·​ten·​dance ə-ˈten-dən(t)s 

: service at a hospital

a physician in attendance