attention
Americannoun
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attentions
plural
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the act or faculty of attending, especially by directing the mind to an object.
- Synonyms:
- heed, mindfulness, alertness, watchfulness, consciousness, awareness
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Psychology.
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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.
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a state of consciousness characterized by such concentration.
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a capacity to maintain selective or sustained concentration.
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observant care; consideration.
Individual attention is given to each child.
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civility or courtesy.
attention to a guest.
- Synonyms:
- homage, respect, regard, politeness, deference
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notice or awareness.
His deliberate cough caught the waiter's attention.
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attentions, acts of courtesy or devotion indicating affection, as in courtship.
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Military. an erect position with eyes to the front, arms to the sides, and heels together (often used as a command).
noun
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concentrated direction of the mind, esp to a problem or task
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consideration, notice, or observation
a new matter has come to our attention
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detailed care or special treatment
to pay attention to one's appearance
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(usually plural) an act of consideration, courtesy, or gallantry indicating affection or love
attentions given to a lover
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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
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psychol the act of concentrating on any one of a set of objects or thoughts See also selective attention
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of attention
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English attencioun, from Latin attentiōn-, stem of attentiō; see attent -ion
Explanation
"May I have your attention please?" When you ask that question, you are asking people to focus their mental powers on you. Whether they do or not depends on your next words. You'll have their full attention if you say, "Here's $100." The noun attention can also refer to an interest in something or someone. You probably pay attention in school when your teachers bring up topics in which you are personally interested. You can also shower attention on those you love or indulge. The word also refers to "standing at attention," as in the military — by standing up straight, arms down at the sides, and feet together.
Vocabulary lists containing attention
"Scary Tales," Vocabulary from the essay
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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.
See Examples For:
El-Sayed, in the final week of the campaign, began to turn his attention to Mike Rogers.
From Slate ● Aug. 5, 2026
In 2010, two Deinosuchus-related fossil studies brought Schwimmer international attention.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 5, 2026
Jones Trading’s Michael O’Rourke wants us to pay attention to collapsing AI-token prices.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026
Just as important as Kiffin’s ability to light up scoreboards was his knack for using any microphone within earshot to stir up attention.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
A clatter of hooves and wagon wheels drawing up to the side of the house snapped her attention back to my laundry, and she finished transferring it into her basket.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
Many analysts wonder whether the AI-tied stocks can continue to monopolize investors’ attentions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 2026
Perhaps a bigger question – do MPs actually want to focus their attentions on something else?
From BBC ● Apr. 24, 2026
He launched an attempt to breed pandas in captivity but, to his despair, London's Chi Chi repeatedly spurned the attentions of Moscow's An An.
From BBC ● Apr. 20, 2026
Instead of courting major movie roles, the actor has instead focused his attentions on more independent projects while also building a family with Song, whom he met in 2014.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 20, 2026
Top-down and bottom-up attentions are both essential to survival, and so is the balance between them.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
Definitions 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.
