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

Harassment tends to happen while Metro passengers wait for either the bus or train; bus stops are particularly vulnerable. —Oren Peleg, New Yorker, 9 May 2026

Historically, the president’s party tends to lose seats in the midterms. —David A. Lieb, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026

Venezuelan media tends to ignore local electronic music or treat it as a curiosity, reflecting a socially conservative mainstream culture. —Marcos Sanoja, Pitchfork, 8 May 2026

Travel tends to spike peer-to-peer transfers in a way that everyday life doesn't. —Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 8 May 2026

However, each ship approved for transit tends to carry a greater cost or trade-off as the game progresses over 10 playable days between March 3 and April 13, 2026. —Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 8 May 2026

Game software tends to continue growing. —ABC News, 8 May 2026

Why Baking Soda Is Best For Grout Like white vinegar, baking soda tends to be a tried-and-true household cleaner for it's effectiveness at removing dirt and grime. —Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 2 May 2026

Moderation tends to happen through small, realistic choices. —Justin Kissinger, Fortune, 2 May 2026