1
as in supervises
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 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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tends
Doyle Rice, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026
Turning 65 may feel like a milestone, but retirement tends to work best when guided by a clear plan.
—Bruce Helmer, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026
This sense of difficulty tends to prevent Silent Way from reaching the ascendant highs of Atobe’s best material.
—Maxie Younger, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2026
The wildlife team tends to the cubs while wearing bear suits to avoid habituating the cubs to humans.
—Isabel Yip, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2026
Our Top Makeup Brush Sets When the brushes are thoughtfully designed—think soft, dense fibers and sturdy handles—blending tends to be easier, and your makeup looks that much more polished.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 27 Mar. 2026
However, insuring hybrids tends to cost less than electric-only cars.
—Liz Knueven, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
Dana Calacci, who studies the social impact of AI at Pennsylvania State University and wasn’t involved in the new research, has found that sycophancy tends to get worse the longer users interact with the model.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026
These are considered some of the coolest wine-growing regions in California, and the style here tends to be juicier, fruitier, and more full-bodied than Burgundian Pinot Noir.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
This is due in part to the influence of an expected El Niño, a natural climate pattern that tends to reduce Atlantic hurricane activity.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026
Turning 65 may feel like a milestone, but retirement tends to work best when guided by a clear plan.
—Bruce Helmer, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026
This sense of difficulty tends to prevent Silent Way from reaching the ascendant highs of Atobe’s best material.
—Maxie Younger, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2026
The wildlife team tends to the cubs while wearing bear suits to avoid habituating the cubs to humans.
—Isabel Yip, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2026
Our Top Makeup Brush Sets When the brushes are thoughtfully designed—think soft, dense fibers and sturdy handles—blending tends to be easier, and your makeup looks that much more polished.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 27 Mar. 2026
However, insuring hybrids tends to cost less than electric-only cars.
—Liz Knueven, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
Dana Calacci, who studies the social impact of AI at Pennsylvania State University and wasn’t involved in the new research, has found that sycophancy tends to get worse the longer users interact with the model.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026
These are considered some of the coolest wine-growing regions in California, and the style here tends to be juicier, fruitier, and more full-bodied than Burgundian Pinot Noir.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tends. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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