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

• 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

Montse Tomé is the attentive personality spurring the current crop on from the sidelines. —Henry Flynn, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025

During their stay, travelers will notice things like stainless steel coffee makers in their rooms, beautifully tiled jacuzzis, attentive staff, and a delightfully relaxed atmosphere. —Lea Dlugosch, Travel + Leisure, 22 July 2025

If used in combination with an attentive human, however, the technology could prove highly effective at reducing the number of traffic fatalities on European roads. —Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 22 July 2025

Full-Self Driving (Supervised) is a semi-autonomous driving feature that can stop, go, and steer without interactions from a driver as long as the user is attentive. —Charles Singh, USA Today, 18 July 2025

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