attend

verb

at·​tend ə-ˈtend How to pronounce attend (audio)
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

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.
Micah Parsons attended the Dallas Cowboys’ practice with the Los Angeles Rams on Tuesday. Jon MacHota, New York Times, 6 Aug. 2025 In January 2024, the couple attended the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards in L.A. Ralph dazzled in a white mermaid-style gown, while Hughes complemented his wife in a white tux. Sarah Title, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025 The group, who first formed as The Keystone Angels in 1974, were enshrined into the very geography of their hometown on Monday (Aug. 4) at a ceremony attended by Lord Mayor Dr Jane Lomax-Smith. Tyler Jenke, Billboard, 5 Aug. 2025 MrBeast, left, attends YouTube Brandcast 2025 on May 14, 2025, in New York City. Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Aug. 2025 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 20 Aug. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on attend

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