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 And because the three wines are sold in small allocations, Vivoli said, a large supply showing up would draw attention. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026 Like Kieran Culkin and Jeremy Strong, Widow’s Bay standout Kate O’Flynn could parlay her prestige-TV acclaim to Oscar attention for Tender Loving Care. — Nate Jones, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026 Steve Montoya, who wrote the book, says the story has caught the attention of Hollywood. — Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2026 Fund, established after her 2024 Best New Artist Grammy acceptance speech called attention to healthcare access and sustainable livelihoods for artists. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 9 Oct. 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
  • Newer techniques in which cooling occurs directly at the server or chip level include direct liquid cooling (also called direct-to-chip cooling) and immersion cooling.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Sonos Soundbar Prime Day Deal Bring cinematic immersion to your living room with the Sonos Beam Gen 2 Soundbar.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of immersion
Noun
  • The overt awareness of a ticking clock allows the smallest details to rise to the top.
    — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Morales, who has spoken publicly about her family’s experience with Alzheimer’s disease and the importance of awareness, joins a lineup of leading experts, advocates and innovators for the one-day event.
    — THR Staff, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of awareness
Noun
  • Nordrum’s expressive eyes setting the scene for what might be the most romantic gesture in literature (and movie) history.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The gestures of moving, being, and breathing coalesced for Kristin as this poem, which emerged from the state of presence that is meditation-in-action.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of gesture
Noun
  • Under the ban, each homogeneous material that makes up a garment should not have a PFHxA concentration equal to or greater than 25 parts per billion (ppb) for the sum of PFHxA and its salts, while 1,000 ppb for the sum of its related substances.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Captains stay in contact with other vessels throughout each trip to share information about salmon concentrations, while the fleet follows weekly closure areas based on reports from the fishing grounds.
    — Annika Hammerschlag, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of concentration
Noun
  • For meditation teacher Nico Cary, the cemetery is an ideal backdrop for mindfulness and a lesson in impermanence.
    — Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • In addition to the Health Coach, the premium app membership provides access to Fitbit’s library of exercise content and mindfulness sessions.
    — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of mindfulness
Noun
  • The rest of the kitchen is pretty in pink, courtesy of a rosy Zia Tile backsplash and mosaic countertops by Concrete Collaborative.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Hell, even recurring characters drop off without so much as the courtesy of a sickening demise.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of courtesy
Noun
  • Still, Taking the Long Way earned the band’s retreat from the public eye.
    — Shaad D’Souza, Pitchfork, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Keierleber is described as a 6-foot white male, approximately 240 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.
    — Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of eye
Noun
  • The taxpayers’ attorney, Abraham Wagner, cited four cases to support his argument that an IRS notice assessing additional taxes was invalid.
    — Kaitlin Newkirk, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
  • This move would only continue to shift this heavy financial burden onto local businesses and individual homeowners, many of whom have recently received notices of increases of more than 10% in their property assessments.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 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 17 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on attention

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about attention

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of syncretic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

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

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 16
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
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
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All