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
The goods from the shops tend to be piled out on the cobblestoned streets, with wooden antique furniture and ornate carpets found in abundance. — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Aug. 2026 In addition, adults tend to have more health conditions than teens, putting them at greater risk from the combination of drug effects and heat, both of which can put strain on the heart. — Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 9 Aug. 2026 During solar minimum, when the sun has few or no sunspots, the corona tends to look more uniform and more symmetrical. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 9 Aug. 2026 Meteor showers tend to put on dazzling celestial shows and happen at predictable times every year when the Earth plows through trails of debris left behind by comets and, sometimes, asteroids. — Adithi Ramakrishnan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 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
  • But Google's hardware pitch leans just as heavily on Gemini Intelligence — a suite of artificial intelligence features designed to understand what a user is doing on the phone and take action across different apps.
    — MacKenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Back then, governments around the world, in sensible Keynesian fashion, leaned into stimulus plans to mitigate the postcrisis recessions.
    — Kenneth S. Rogoff, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of lean
Verb
  • The question reflected my own years spent watching youth tournaments at Anaheim's American Sports Centers alongside thousands of volleyball families.
    — Tim Genske, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Does this study prove that watching television causes negative brain changes?
    — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of watch
Verb
  • The population of Quincy, a red dot in deep blue Washington, has grown as agriculture and food processing expanded.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Texas is entering a new era of education this school year with the launch of the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA), and some private schools in North Texas are already rapidly growing at an unprecedented pace.
    — Lacey Beasley, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of grow
Verb
  • Leaders must cultivate environments that foster these paths, offering meaningful ownership, opportunities for judgment, learning, and mentorship.
    — Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Ganni’s success also fueled growing interest in Copenhagen’s fashion scene, helping pave the way for fellow Danish labels like Saks Potts, Stine Goya, Rotate, and Baum und Pferdgarten to cultivate devoted international followings.
    — Kelsey Stewart, InStyle, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of cultivate
Verb
  • Carrick named an unchanged line-up in four of his 17 Premier League games last season — a feat Amorim managed just once.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Orlando’s best chance of the first half came in the 31st minute when Simone Jackson hit the crossbar, but the Pride managed little else going forward and went into the break trailing.
    — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of manage
Verb
  • Nick Martin, a DOT supervising engineer and project manager for the bridge rehab, answered that the choices aren’t that simple.
    — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Becoming a therapist requires years of education, supervised practice, licensing examinations and often substantial student debt.
    — Wayne Lonstein, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of supervise
Verb
  • Tombo Banda, managing director of CrossBoundary Energy, said Chinese factories are producing more vehicle s than the domestic market can absorb while exports face mounting barriers.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The Braves had only three hits, but produced enough offense for Pérez, who has not allowed a run since Francisco Linder of the Mets hit a two-run homer when the teams met in New York on July 27.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of produce
Verb
  • Firestar operated a large factory inside Surat’s Special Economic Zone, a duty-free enclave that allowed the company to cut, polish and manufacture jewelry for export markets.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Oznur Bell One of the journey’s guides, who was operating the vessel, spotted the hippo and slowed the boat in an attempt not to disturb it, Oznur said.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 8 Aug. 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 15 Aug. 2026.

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