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.
The 64-year-old director, who last attended the festival in person in 2003, addressed his prize to all Iranians, saying the most important thing was Iran and the country's freedom. Miranda Murray, USA Today, 26 May 2025 Some wore the jerseys of forwards Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin, who attended college at the University of Dayton. Michael Marot, Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2025 The mission of Elite, according to Woodard’s petitions, was to provide flexible and individualized programs for students who hadn’t succeeded in or didn’t want to attend traditional brick-and-mortar schools. Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 May 2025 Earlier in the week at Cannes herself, Bella stayed at the Hotel Le Martinez alongside her father, Mohamed Hadid, and his longtime girlfriend, model Keni Silva, who attended the Children’s Oncology Support Fund benefit there. Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 25 May 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 28 May. 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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