PAY ATTENTION Synonyms: 98 Similar and Opposite Words

attention

noun

ə-ˈten(t)-shən

Definition of attention

as in immersion

a focusing of the mind on something I need your full attention right now

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 Too many brands exhaust their marketing budgets fighting for attention during the primary event when real power lies in owning the transitional micro-moment immediately following exertion. — Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 Below are six that caught our attention as being worthy of further analysis. — Jesús Cano, New York Times, 31 July 2026 The widening Iran war engulfed Egypt in a drone strike that encompassed the Suez Canal, which had, so far, been beyond Iran’s attention. — Rob Crilly, The Washington Examiner, 31 July 2026 This is an urgent issue for the rare disease community that deserves the attention of Congress. — Kat Bryant Knudson, STAT, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for attention

Recent Examples of Synonyms for attention

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

Thus, the scenarios are often of the Catch-22 variety — to continue to lean on a group of pitchers who have proved to be one of baseball’s best, while having the awareness of a mounting and taxing workload.

— Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 27 July 2026
There’s more awareness about the impact of our surroundings on our mental health.

— Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 27 July 2026

Definition of awareness

Noun

Nyota offers her own words of comfort (and cookies) to Kirk, a nice gesture, but one slightly diminished by Kirk’s inability to connect with Carol and David.

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 30 July 2026
Gottman’s research on repair attempts shows that small gestures during a fight, like a joke or an apology, can defuse escalation.

— Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 30 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

There's a decision tree on how to use DBT skills to resolve conflict, for example, and an infographic on how to practice mindfulness.

— Malaka Gharib, NPR, 20 July 2026
The other is traditional mindfulness, which include techniques that focus not on internal monologues and rationalizations but on staying grounded in one’s surroundings and present circumstances.

— Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 20 July 2026

Definition of mindfulness

Noun

The doll exudes holiday glam in her floor-length, bold-red dress (reading as timeless and not tacky, courtesy of a sweetheart neckline, oversized bow detail, and voluminous skirt).

— Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 29 July 2026
But Marchand didn't describe granting ESPN a few minutes of courtesy.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026

Definition of courtesy

Noun

In June, a judge suspended his arrest warrant and the international red notice issued to Interpol at the request of Hernández’s lawyer, although the case is still pending.

— ABC News, ABC News, 26 July 2026
Last week, a similar notice was issued after the United States Navy intercepted and boarded a ship in the Gulf of Oman.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 25 July 2026

Definition of notice

Browse Nearby Words

attend (to)

attention

attentions

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Attention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attention. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of attention

noun

Example Sentences

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