1
as in watched
to take charge of especially on behalf of another
tend the store while I run an errand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in grew
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cultivated
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
as in managed
to look after and make decisions about
the dying patriarch wondered who would tend the family business after he was gone
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 tended
Becky Sullivan, NPR, 6 May 2026
And while his mentors have tended to stick with the classics, Tamaki has garnered a reputation for getting creative with his pies.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 4 May 2026
In the new paper, the researchers found that when schools first adopted the pouches, suspensions tended to rise, and students’ reported well-being fell—but that these trends didn’t last long and that, with time, discipline leveled out to baseline, and well-being rose.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 4 May 2026
Domhnall Molloy, owner of Third Street Social, was at the soft opening Thursday and watched over kitchen staff and servers, who tended to a fairly full dining room.
—Kansas City Star, 4 May 2026
Over the course of his career, which included five postseason runs with the Carolina Hurricanes, his production has tended to dip in the playoffs.
—Peter Baugh, New York Times, 3 May 2026
After being tended to by a couple of trainers for a few minutes, Springer gingerly walked off the field and was replaced by Jesús Sánchez.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
Bill, who was a Vietnam War veteran, tended to be angry and demanding at home.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 May 2026
Jeff Hirsch, editor of the Stock Trader’s Almanac, said in an email earlier this week that the stock market has tended to bottom in March and April before going on to rally for the rest of the year.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 1 May 2026
Verb
Her wails of pain were audible on TV broadcasts as medics tended to her before a helicopter finally carried her away.
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 6 May 2026
And while his mentors have tended to stick with the classics, Tamaki has garnered a reputation for getting creative with his pies.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 4 May 2026
In the new paper, the researchers found that when schools first adopted the pouches, suspensions tended to rise, and students’ reported well-being fell—but that these trends didn’t last long and that, with time, discipline leveled out to baseline, and well-being rose.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 4 May 2026
Domhnall Molloy, owner of Third Street Social, was at the soft opening Thursday and watched over kitchen staff and servers, who tended to a fairly full dining room.
—Kansas City Star, 4 May 2026
Over the course of his career, which included five postseason runs with the Carolina Hurricanes, his production has tended to dip in the playoffs.
—Peter Baugh, New York Times, 3 May 2026
After being tended to by a couple of trainers for a few minutes, Springer gingerly walked off the field and was replaced by Jesús Sánchez.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
Bill, who was a Vietnam War veteran, tended to be angry and demanding at home.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 May 2026
Jeff Hirsch, editor of the Stock Trader’s Almanac, said in an email earlier this week that the stock market has tended to bottom in March and April before going on to rally for the rest of the year.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tended. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
