attend

American  

[uh-tend] / əˈtɛnd /

verb (used with object)

1. to be present at.

   to attend a lecture; to attend church.

2. to go with as a concomitant or result; accompany.

   Fever may attend a cold. Success attended her hard work.

3. to take care of; minister to; devote one's services to.

   The nurse attended the patient daily.

4. to wait upon; accompany as a companion or servant.

   The retainers attended their lord.

5. to take charge of; watch over; look after; tend; guard.

   to attend one's health.

6. to listen to; give heed to.

7. Archaic. to wait for; expect.

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verb (used without object)

1. to take care or charge.

   to attend to a sick person.

2. to apply oneself.

   to attend to one's work.

3. to pay attention; listen or watch attentively; direct one's thought; pay heed.

   to attend to a speaker.

4. to be present.

   She is a member but does not attend regularly.

5. to be present and ready to give service; wait (usually followed by on orupon ).

   to attend upon the Queen.

6. to follow; be consequent (usually followed by on orupon ).

7. Obsolete. to wait.

attend British  

/ əˈtɛnd /

verb

1. to be present at (an event, meeting, etc)

2. to give care; minister

3. to pay attention; listen

4. (tr; often passive) to accompany or follow

   a high temperature attended by a severe cough

5. (intr; foll by on or upon) to follow as a consequence (of)

6. to devote one's time; apply oneself

   to attend to the garden

7. (tr) to escort or accompany

8. (intr; foll by on or upon) to wait (on); serve; provide for the needs (of)

   to attend on a guest

9. archaic (tr) to wait for; expect

10. obsolete (intr) to delay

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Related Words

See accompany.

Other Word Forms

• attender noun
• attendingly adverb
• well-attended adjective

Etymology

Origin of attend

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English atenden, from Anglo-French, Old French atendre, from Latin attendere “to bend to, notice,” from at- at- + tendere “to stretch, extend, proceed”; tend ¹

Example Sentences

“To find out that we’re one of the first ones to get this pilot program was a little nerve-racking at first,” said Jessica Clayton, whose two children attend Deltona High School.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

In October, my wife and I moved to France so she could attend the graduate program of her dreams.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

I drove the car on a round trip from Raleigh, N.C., to Jacksonville, Fla., last month to attend the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, mostly keeping to the route along I-95.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

Almost all parents whose children attend the school - 97% - have now agreed not to buy them a smartphone until they reach second-level education.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

However, there is no evidence as yet to suggest that the scientists and their families are the targets of the vandalism, although several of their children do attend the middle school.

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman

Related Words

• follow
• hear
• note
• observe
• watch