attention

American  

[uh-ten-shuhn, uh-ten-shuhn] / əˈtɛn ʃən, əˌtɛnˈʃʌn /

noun

1. the act or faculty of attending, especially by directing the mind to an object.

   Synonyms:

   heed, mindfulness, alertness, watchfulness, consciousness, awareness

2. Psychology.

   1. a concentration of the mind on a single object or thought, especially one preferentially selected from a complex, with a view to limiting or clarifying receptivity by narrowing the range of stimuli.

   2. a state of consciousness characterized by such concentration.

   3. a capacity to maintain selective or sustained concentration.

3. observant care; consideration.

   Individual attention is given to each child.

4. civility or courtesy.

   attention to a guest.

   Synonyms:

   homage, respect, regard, politeness, deference

5. notice or awareness.

   His deliberate cough caught the waiter's attention.

6. attentions, acts of courtesy or devotion indicating affection, as in courtship.

7. Military. an erect position with eyes to the front, arms to the sides, and heels together (often used as a command).

---

attention British  

/ əˈtɛnʃən /

noun

1. concentrated direction of the mind, esp to a problem or task

2. consideration, notice, or observation

   a new matter has come to our attention

3. detailed care or special treatment

   to pay attention to one's appearance

4. (usually plural) an act of consideration, courtesy, or gallantry indicating affection or love

   attentions given to a lover

5. the motionless position of formal military alertness, esp in drill when an upright position is assumed with legs and heels together, arms to the sides, head and eyes facing to the front

6. psychol the act of concentrating on any one of a set of objects or thoughts See also selective attention

---

1. the order to be alert or to adopt a position of formal military alertness

attention Idioms  

1. see pay attention.

---

Other Word Forms

• attentional adjective
• overattention noun

Etymology

Origin of attention

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English attencioun, from Latin attentiōn-, stem of attentiō; attent -ion

Example Sentences

Level three systems mean drivers can stop paying attention some of the time.

From Barron's

That evening, Musk replied to a Tesla fan who had brought the comments to his attention: “He is being misinformed,” the tech entrepreneur posted in response to O’Leary’s estimate of the added fuel cost.

From The Wall Street Journal

It’s been many years since the land of continuous “Ridiculousness” repeats gave us any reason to pay attention to it on most days, let alone in the waning hours of Dec. 31.

From Salon

It was something that he wanted the court to understand, that he'd been driven to "paranoia" by the constant attention surrounding him and his relationships.

From BBC

I can report that everyone throughout the country, regardless of politics, should be paying much closer attention to the state’s education turnaround.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• consideration
• debate
• mind
• scrutiny
• thinking
• thought