attention

noun

ə-ˈten(t)-shən How to pronounce attention (audio)
Definition of attentionnext
1
as in immersion
a focusing of the mind on something I need your full attention right now

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in awareness
a state of being aware several mothers brought to the committee's attention the deplorable condition of the playground

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in gesture
an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners she enjoyed her suitor's old-school attentions

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of attention Then, some years ago, Alaei's colleagues in Iran turned their attention to Zophobas morio - the superworm, which is native to South and Central America. — Ari Daniel, NPR, 17 July 2026 Advertisement That question deserves particular attention because Atlanta occupies a unique place in the American imagination. — Jeffrey Bennett, Time, 17 July 2026 Pay extra attention to the base of your plants as well as garden borders. — Molly Burford, Southern Living, 17 July 2026 Why does this event seem to grow more important as the world’s attention continues to fracture into niche subgenres? — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for attention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attention
  1. immersion
  2. awareness
  3. gesture
  4. concentration
  5. mindfulness
  6. courtesy
  7. eye
  8. notice
Noun
  • Such layered literariness within a writer’s biography suggests a kind of total immersion.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
  • Once on the verge of extinction, with fewer than 50 speakers under the age of 18, ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi now has more than 20,000 speakers, thanks in large part to the growth of Hawaiian-language immersion programs across the state beginning in the 1980s.
    — Regina Kim, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of immersion
Noun
  • Holding it all together is the irrepressible Rodri, sweeping up loose balls and snuffing out counter-attacks with a positional awareness few central midfielders match.
    — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • Supported by a historic wave of retiring business owners and growing awareness of acquisition entrepreneurship, buying a business has become an increasingly attractive path to ownership.
    — Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of awareness
Noun
  • Even when two of them are just seated in the booth of a diner, what passes between them is suggested by looks, gestures, and our ability to read the situation.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 16 July 2026
  • The Smart Stack offers more contextual suggestions and has added convenient gesture controls.
    — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 15 July 2026
Definition of gesture
Noun
  • All fruits and vegetables provide micronutrients and antioxidants, but those that are darker and richer in color have higher concentrations of these anti-inflammatory compounds.
    — Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 21 July 2026
  • Fluid from the surrounding cells moves into the blood to help dilute the higher concentration of sugar.
    — Bridget Shirvell, Martha Stewart, 21 July 2026
Definition of concentration
Noun
  • Pannakara’s discourses on mindfulness and kindness in churchyards, town squares and in front of the Lincoln Memorial drew large, diverse crowds.
    — Deepa Bharath, Fortune, 17 July 2026
  • Part of an overall approach to mindfulness is an awareness of one’s surroundings, and celebrating Central Texas culture with mindful movement and creativity is one way to do that.
    — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 16 July 2026
Definition of mindfulness
Noun
  • Aside from the clutch, Nyong’o accessorized her New York City premiere attire with gold metallic heels by Aldo and jewelry pieces courtesy of Sabyasachi, further accentuating the gold color scheme of her attire.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 15 July 2026
  • One of the most poignant illustrations of shifting baseline syndrome comes courtesy of researcher Loren McClenachan.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026
Definition of courtesy
Noun
  • The 45 mm Excalibur Kabuto Legacy takes particular inspiration from the samurai, spotlighting 12 highly detailed commanders perched at each hour mark—one of just many stunning aspects that will catch your eye on this latest release.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 17 July 2026
  • Formaldehyde can irritate our eyes, throats, noses and lungs, but can also cause cancer — suggesting that exposure to persistent wildfire smoke could become more toxic as time goes on.
    — Kasha Patel, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
Definition of eye
Noun
  • The recall notice includes brand abbreviations and some product descriptions, including use-by dates, but does not mention specific retailers, restaurants or product names.
    — Jamie Gumbrecht, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • Users have reported receiving notice of the price changes recently as Fubo rolls the channels out to subscribers.
    — Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 17 July 2026
Definition of notice

Browse Nearby Words

attend (to)
attention
attentions
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Attention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attention. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on attention

Nglish: Translation of attention for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about attention

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of maverick

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
thumbnail graphic with text word of the day quiz
Weekly "Word of the Day" Quiz See how well you know each Word of the Day for Ju...
See All