attentive

[uh-ten-tiv]

adjective

1. characterized by or giving attention; observant.

   an attentive audience.

   Synonyms: watchful, awake, alert, aware, mindful, heedful
   Antonyms: unconcerned, apathetic, indifferent

2. thoughtful of others; considerate; polite; courteous.

   an attentive host.

attentive

/ əˈtɛntɪv /

adjective

1. paying attention; listening carefully; observant

2. careful to fulfil the needs or wants (of); considerate (about)

   she was always attentive to his needs

Other Word Forms

• attentively adverb
• attentiveness noun
• overattentive adjective
• overattentively adverb
• unattentive adjective
• unattentively adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of attentive¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Middle French; attent ( def. ), -ive ( def. )

Example Sentences

Orlean, who is so carefully attentive to her responsibilities that we interrupted our interview so she could feed her parking meter, made headlines in 2020 for tweeting with no filter.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He predicted that “a robot that seems as intelligent, as attentive, and as faithful, as a dog” wouldn’t appear before 2048.

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The service certainly matches the price point, our waiter was incredibly attentive, to the point that I thought he was the general manager for the first half of our meal.

Read more on Salon

“One important theme throughout history . . . is that federal courts have to be attentive to the limits of their power,” she said.

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For Oliphant, every part of the cartoon — subject, style and structure — is important, and it’s that reverence for attentive construction that’s been so rapidly phased out.

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Related Words

• accommodating 
• courteous 
• devoted 
• gracious 
• polite 
• respectful 
• solicitous 
• thoughtful