tend to

Idioms  

1. Apply one's attention, as in We should tend to our business, which is to teach youngsters . This term uses tend in the sense of “attend.” [1300s]

2. Be disposed or inclined, as in We tend to believe whatever we are told . This term uses tend in the sense of “have a tendency.” [c. 1600]

---

Example Sentences

High energy prices tend to drive up production costs, curbing economic activity, with analysts expecting the current "low-hire, low-fire" trend to continue.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

High earners tend to do just fine in most economic scenarios.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

It merely looks for linguistic patterns that tend to correlate with AI output.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

And because children tend to spend more time outdoors than adults and engage in more physical activity, they may have higher exposure to outdoor air pollution.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

The good news is that, as with a boa constrictor or a Planet Hollywood T-shirt, normal people tend to keep their distance when you're wearing a Walkman.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris