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
Derived 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.
It prompts me to be less attentive, because I perceive the notetaker as a safety net.
From Slate • May 24, 2026
It also spoke to who Kiara was as a person, family members said: beautiful, warm, thoughtfully attentive to details and focused on the things that matter most.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026
Policymakers will need to be attentive to accelerating wage demands should the jobless rate remain low, which would support the ECB raising rates regardless of the underlying damage to the economy, he said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026
It has not been a major issue, but when I consider the effects of inflation on our retirement savings, I have become more attentive to such matters.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 18, 2026
Like a juggler’s assistant I produced the props, then silent and attentive I waited on my cue.
From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier
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.
