attentive
Americanadjective
-
characterized by or giving attention; observant.
an attentive audience.
- Antonyms:
- unconcerned, apathetic, indifferent
-
thoughtful of others; considerate; polite; courteous.
an attentive host.
adjective
-
paying attention; listening carefully; observant
-
careful to fulfil the needs or wants (of); considerate (about)
she was always attentive to his needs
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of attentive
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Middle French; see attent ( def. ), -ive ( def. )
Explanation
Use the adjective attentive to describe someone who is alert and paying attention: “Attentive observers of the play used clues given in the first scenes of the play to guess the identity of the murderer.” You probably notice that the word attentive looks a lot like the noun attention. It’s easy to remember how to use attentive when you know that the words share related meanings. Use the adjective attentive to describe someone who is full of attention, watching and listening carefully, such as an attentive student who takes great notes and asks questions when something isn't clear.
Vocabulary lists containing attentive
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“West of Loveland” is a spacious, patient and endearingly attentive book that seems to operate on its own system of time, one regulated by personal transformations rather than the pressures of the wider world.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026
The company’s proposed solution to the difficulties of outsourcing grocery shopping seemed to involve becoming an increasingly attentive manager of one’s outsourced grocery shopping.
From Salon ● Oct. 25, 2026
A.I. large language models are prompt, attentive, positive and frictionless—in short, much easier to deal with than humans with their own needs, wants, and moods.
From Slate ● Oct. 2, 2026
“He was an unbelievable class act. He had a tree issue. He had us out, and was so attentive and appreciative, it was just stunning to me.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
She’s very attentive and nods a lot, and before too long she’s done.
From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
