Synonyms of tends

tends 1 of 2

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of tend

as in leans

to show a liking or proneness (for something)

her wardrobe tends toward dark colors and heavy fabrics

Synonyms & Similar Words

• leans
• trends
• inclines
• goes
• runs
• indicates
• suggests
• gravitates
• points

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoids
• shuns
• shies (from or away from)

tends

2 of 2

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of tend

1

as in supervises

to take charge of especially on behalf of another

tend the store while I run an errand

Synonyms & Similar Words

• supervises
• watches
• oversees
• manages
• attends
• operates
• protects
• looks after
• runs
• minds
• controls
• sees to
• cares (for)
• governs
• conducts
• guards
• superintends
• sees after
• guides
• directs
• takes care of
• regulates
• patrols
• shields
• presides (over)
• administrates
• babies
• mothers
• safeguards
• stewards
• shepherds
• babysits
• chaperones

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignores
• neglects
• forgets
• abandons
• passes over
• disregards

2

as in grows

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

• grows
• cultivates
• produces
• promotes
• plants
• crops
• raises
• cultures
• dresses
• rears
• propagates
• harvests
• breeds
• roots
• ripens
• gathers
• sows
• reaps
• quickens
• gleans
• germinates
• sprouts

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• kills
• picks
• pulls (up)
• plucks
• digs
• cuts
• uproots
• mows
• extirpates
• hays

3

as in cultivates

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

• cultivates
• plants
• farms
• harvests
• tills
• crops
• reaps
• harrows
• hoes
• sharecrops

4

as in manages

to look after and make decisions about

the dying patriarch wondered who would tend the family business after he was gone

Synonyms & Similar Words

• manages
• operates
• supervises
• oversees
• regulates
• runs
• handles
• conducts
• controls
• governs
• directs
• keeps
• guides
• administers
• protects
• carries on
• leads
• overlooks
• watches over
• presides (over)
• superintends
• administrates
• steers
• watches
• stewards
• minds
• cares (for)
• pilots
• guards
• safeguards
• micromanages
• stage-manages
• comanages
• codirects

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of tends

Verb

The risk of students using AI to cheat tends to get a lot of attention – with good reason. — Brett Dejager, The Conversation, 10 July 2026

Additionally, utilization tends to increase with larger crews on the space station compared with smaller ones, as maintenance becomes less of a burden with more hands to take on these tasks. — Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 9 July 2026

Worse still, war tends to increase inflation (as is currently happening) and increase debt, which pushes central banks of big economies to raise rates to stave off overheating, slowing down overall growth in those countries. — Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 9 July 2026

For that reason, minoxidil tends to be most helpful with androgenetic alopecia, which usually looks like gradual thinning at the crown or around the hairline. — Deanna Pai, Vogue, 9 July 2026

High-protein pasta made from legumes tends to deliver 20 grams or more per dry serving and doubles as both starch and protein on the plate. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson july 9, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2026

This is a coastal district which tends to have a higher net worth among citizens, more retirees and many condominium residents. — George R. Moraitis, Sun Sentinel, 9 July 2026

If a breach does occur, the damage to trust tends to dwarf the technical incident itself. — Raj Ananthanpillai, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Basketball is probably the easiest, just because players are always jumping and fighting, all the limbs are moving around, and there tends to be a lot of image variety. — T.m. Brown, CNN Money, 8 July 2026