tend 1 of 2

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tend

2 of 2

verb (2)

1
2
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

4

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
Typically, the Supreme Court rulings released earlier in the term are less divided, and decisions released later in the term tend to break down along ideological lines at a higher rate. Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 28 June 2026 In fact, birds tend to fly within the height of the tree canopy that seldom reaches above 100 feet. Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2026 The best Prime Day clothing deals tend to change day by day, so check back in over the course of the event to shop all the newest and most exciting markdowns. Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 23 June 2026 Her mother, Gail Willard, carefully tends to this sacred space. Joe Holden, CBS News, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for tend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tend
Verb
  • On Monday, McFarlane and two friends were outside the fencing, leaning against the metal barriers in front of the Department of Agriculture, which faces the National Mall.
    Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • This look leans more subdued and boho with its all-black layers and accessories, but feel free to experiment with contrasting tones and more color for a bolder result.
    Katherine J Igoe, InStyle, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • Justin Shaffer, of Sacramento, brought his son, River, to watch Friday’s games.
    Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 27 June 2026
  • Do yourself a favor and scroll down through this live blog and watch the replays of all the Senegal goals, especially the last three in the second half.
    Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • The utility attributed the higher costs to broader market dynamics, including more expensive wholesale electricity and growing demand from large users such as manufacturers and data centers across PJM’s 13-state grid.
    Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 30 June 2026
  • The spectacle gave rise to self-starters like Ai who sought to cash in on the growing hype.
    John Liu, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Organizations that successfully fought for voting rights, educational opportunity, and political representation did not always cultivate the next generation of leadership with the same effectiveness.
    Basil Smikle, New York Daily News, 25 June 2026
  • Swift has cultivated a loyal collective of her favorite brands, including Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Area (recall her famous Super Bowl jeans).
    Morgan Evans, USA Today, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • Both Ghana and England will walk away with a point after Ghana managed to hold off England in a heart-pounding final few minutes of stoppage time.
    Monica Alba, NBC news, 24 June 2026
  • Most of the site sits on private land, with a smaller portion managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • That enables Cadence’s system, which is supervised by physicians, to alert a clinician when a patient is deteriorating before a stroke or heart attack, for example.
    Amy Feldman, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
  • Judge Stacy Street sentenced Beckwith to three years supervised probation, the court clerk confirmed to USA TODAY.
    Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • During an earnings call in May, Chief Executive Brian Chesky said AI now writes nearly 60% of new code, produced by the company’s engineers.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • For decades, oceans have acted as the planet’s main heat sink, absorbing 90% of the excess heat produced by humans burning fossil fuels.
    Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Air Sprint, founded in 2000, operates a fleet of 44 jets for over 600 fractional owners and ranks eighth among North American operators by flight hours.
    Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
  • Another pilot flying into Newark on a United Express flight operated by GoJet Airlines also reported seeing a drone at roughly 2,000 feet, according to ATC audio from around the same time.
    Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 27 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tend. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on tend

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