tend 1 of 2

verb (1)

ˈtend How to pronounce tend (audio)
Definition of tendnext
as in to lean
to show a liking or proneness (for something) her wardrobe tends toward dark colors and heavy fabrics

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tend

2 of 2

verb (2)

1
as in to watch
to take charge of especially on behalf of another tend the store while I run an errand

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2
as in to grow
to look after or assist the growth of by labor and care lately I haven't been doing a good job of tending my garden

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to cultivate
to work by plowing, sowing, and raising crops on plots that during the war were tended by city dwellers as vegetable gardens

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4
as in to manage
to look after and make decisions about the dying patriarch wondered who would tend the family business after he was gone

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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 tend
Verb
Stock prices tend to follow where corporate profits and interest rates go over the long term, depending on them much more than on who controls what in Washington. — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026 From there, the wedding was plotted via weekly Zoom meetings with the Matthew Oliver team, particularly their lead planners Bertie and Georgia, while the Turkish team tended to be most comfortable over WhatsApp. — Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026 Perhaps things tend to be fine early in the day but unravel as the evening progresses. — Joy Harden Bradford, AJC.com, 5 Nov. 2026 Like Cassavetes, Jaglom tended to be almost single-mindedly focused on interpersonal relationships — romantic ones, but also friendships and rivalries between men and between women. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tend
  1. lean
  2. watch
  3. grow
  4. cultivate
  5. manage
  6. supervise
  7. produce
  8. operate
Verb
  • Hidden in Pieces, the band’s first proper live album, leans into that ache, recasting their early friction and ferocity into tender, clear-eyed reflections.
    — Megan Buerger, Pitchfork, 5 Nov. 2026
  • There’s a 25-meter pool alongside a sauna and relaxation areas that lean into quiet minimalism rather than flashy wellness theatrics.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of lean
Verb
  • But the screens on almost all of United’s aircraft are significantly bigger than any phone's display, which could make a meaningful difference when watching the video podcasts that Spotify added to its repertoire in 2020.
    — Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Members of the Stop the Stars Coalition gathered Tuesday night to watch the election returns as Proposition A was defeated by a wide margin.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of watch
Verb
  • Their activity creates a growing stream of branch updates, code reviews, merges, and repository downloads.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Tapestry's recognition also adds to a growing collection of national honors earned by Minnesota food businesses.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of grow
Verb
  • These dioramas are a snapshot in time that allow children to cultivate their own imagination and passions.
    — Lili Mei Granda Argianas, The Conversation, 30 Oct. 2026
  • She is credited with leading a period of substantial business growth and innovation, and cultivating relationships with customers, which will all be important for Bergdorf’s heading into the future.
    — David Moin, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of cultivate
Verb
  • Union Berlin managed to draw at Augsburg 1-1 after a player from each was sent off in separate incidents.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The winner will gain one of five seats on the board that runs the highway district, which is responsible for building, managing and maintaining local roads and bridges countywide — as well as setting ACHD’s nearly $260 million annual budget.
    — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of manage
Verb
  • Cole is widely expected to supervise Raman’s transition team, sharing those duties with Andrea Conant, chief of staff for Raman’s council office.
    — Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Especially at small companies, managers are often tasked with supervising the hiring process on top of their regular duties.
    — Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of supervise
Verb
  • That changed on Sunday against the Patriots as Robinson produced two sacks against Drake Maye, adding to his season total of four sacks.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026
  • These structures form a mesh-like network that immobilizes the kerosene, producing a material with liquid and solid-like properties.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of produce
Verb
  • The complication is that about 95% of the world’s 46,000 McDonald’s restaurants are owned and operated by franchisees — and some have pushed back against a proposal that could require $650,000 to $800,000 of investment per store.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The rail line, operating since 1888, has always been vulnerable to the ocean’s wrath due to its location — but its beachfront property is also one of its main draws for riders seeking a scenic trip down Southern California’s iconic coast.
    — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of operate

Browse Nearby Words

tenants
tend
tended
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Cite this Entry

“Tend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tend. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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