attention span
noun
: the length of time during which one (such as an individual or a group) is able to concentrate or remain interested
Examples of attention span in a Sentence
people with short attention spans
Recent Examples on the Web
In a world where first impressions are hugely influential and attention spans are short, being on time is one of the easiest ways to signal dependability, courtesy, and respect.
—
Joseph Liu, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
The increasingly common habit of second screening — like texting or browsing social media while watching a TV show — further fragments the attention span.
—Rachel Hale, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2025
But if your career is tethered to a one-minute clip, and to algorithms dictating what should and shouldn’t be put in front of people—an algorithm that is also chipping away at people’s attention spans—what happens then?
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 30 July 2025
Social media may also play a role: People tend to talk quickly on online platforms, using an elevated tone to get their point across through time constraints and short attention spans.
—Ashton Jackson, CNBC, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for attention span
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Joseph Liu, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
The increasingly common habit of second screening — like texting or browsing social media while watching a TV show — further fragments the attention span.
—Rachel Hale, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2025
But if your career is tethered to a one-minute clip, and to algorithms dictating what should and shouldn’t be put in front of people—an algorithm that is also chipping away at people’s attention spans—what happens then?
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 30 July 2025
Social media may also play a role: People tend to talk quickly on online platforms, using an elevated tone to get their point across through time constraints and short attention spans.
—Ashton Jackson, CNBC, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for attention span
Cite this Entry
“Attention span.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attention%20span. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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