1
: thinking about or watching something carefully : paying careful attention to something
Attentive [=observant] readers might notice some mistakes in the book.
an attentive audience
—often + toHe's very attentive to details.
2
: very concerned about the needs of others
The hospital is proud of its attentive staff.
Our waiter was very attentive.
Cite this Entry
“Attentive.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/attentive. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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