WordGarden.ioattend
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /ətˈɛnd/
US
- /əˈtɛnd/
Meanings
Verb
to go to and be present at an event, class, meeting, or institution
to pay close attention to something
to deal with, take care of, or look after something or someone
Beyond the definition
To attend something means to be present at an event, meeting, or place, usually because you are meant to be there and engage with what is happening. You might attend a concert with friends, attend a business conference for work, or attend school regularly as a student. You can also attend to a sick family member—meaning you take care of them. It is more than just showing up; it also carries a sense of paying attention and responsibility. In older usage, people could attend a monarch or dignitary, meaning they were in service.
To attend means to be present at a specific event, place, or activity, often with the intention of participating in it. For example, "She will attend the conference next week" means she plans to be there and take part in it.
The verb also appears in related uses with to. Attend to someone usually means to care for them: "The nurse attended to the patient immediately." Attend to a task means to handle a responsibility: "I have some urgent matters to attend to."
Historically, attend comes from the Old French attendre and the Latin attendere (“to stretch toward, pay attention”), which helps explain both senses of being present and directing attention or care.
You will also see the noun form, attendance, used for the number of people present at an event: "The conference had excellent attendance."
So whether you are showing up for a meeting, handling a task, or caring for a person, attend usually means being present and actively involved, not merely physically there.
Examples
- 1
Public event
Hundreds of people attended the street festival last weekend.
- 2
Team meeting
Are you planning to attend the team meeting tomorrow?
- 3
University study
She attended university in Boston before moving to Seattle.
- Phraseattend university
study there as a student
- 4
Remote attendance
If you can't attend in person, you can join by video.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Visitor help
The receptionist asked me to wait while she attended to another visitor.
- Patternattend to + person or task
deal with someone or something that needs attention
- 6
Medical care
A nurse quickly attended to the boy's cut knee.
- 7
Work tasks
I need to attend to a few emails before I leave the office.
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- attendverb
Forms
- attendedpast tenseverb
- attending-ing formverb
- attendsverb