attentive

adjective

at·​ten·​tive ə-ˈten-tiv 

1

: mindful, observant

attentive to what he is doing

2

: heedful of the comfort of others : solicitous

an attentive waitress

3

: offering attentions in or as if in the role of a suitor

an attentive boyfriend

attentively adverb

attentiveness noun

Synonyms of attentive

• focused
• immersed
• absorbed
• interested

Examples of attentive in a Sentence

The hospital is proud of its attentive staff.

Our waiter was very attentive.

Recent Examples on the Web

The crew were attentive, friendly, available, and, of course, extremely knowledgeable. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Sep. 2026

The hotel occupies a pristine stretch of sand with the kind of attentive Four Seasons service that extends all the way to your beach chair—food and drinks included—plus paddleboards, boogie boards, and two oceanfront pools. — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026

Staff are attentive and knowledgeable but unobtrusive, and the cocktails are excellent. — Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 4 Sep. 2026

Shooting in a widescreen format that gives ironic grandeur to a squat, featureless town in the Texas Panhandle, DP Peter Flinckenberg is attentive to the piercing, sometimes radiant winter light of the region in the harshest months of the year. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see attend

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for attentive

• agentive
• incentive
• inventive
• preventive
• retentive
• disincentive
• inattentive

Kids Definition

attentive

adjective

at·​ten·​tive ə-ˈtent-iv 

1

: paying attention

2

: thoughtful for the welfare or comfort of others : courteous

attentively adverb

attentiveness noun