attend
7 synonyms and 0 antonyms for attend, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To be present at an event, class, or place.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use attend
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French atendre, "to await, pay attention to," from Latin attendere, literally "to stretch toward."
Full origin of attend →Frequently asked questions
What does “attend” mean?
The word “attend” means to be present at an event, class, or place. In plain terms, to be present somewhere, to look after someone, or to pay close attention — the sense depends on context.
How do you pronounce “attend”?
“Attend” is pronounced uh-TEHND (/əˈtɛnd/ in IPA).
How do you use “attend” in a sentence?
Here is “attend” used in a sentence: “Over two hundred guests attended the wedding.”
What part of speech is “attend”?
“Attend” is a verb.
Where does the word “attend” come from?
The word “attend” comes from Latin. From Old French atendre, "to await, pay attention to," from Latin attendere, literally "to stretch toward.".
Is “attend” a common word?
“Attend” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “attend” have?
“Attend” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to be present at an event, class, or place.
What is the difference between attend and attend to?
To attend something means to be present at it, such as attending a meeting or a wedding. To attend to something means to deal with it or take care of it, as in attending to a customer or attending to your duties. The extra word 'to' changes the meaning entirely.
Does attend always mean being physically present?
Not anymore. Traditionally, attending meant showing up in person at a place or event. Today you can also attend virtually — joining a class, meeting, or concert online counts as attending. The core idea is participation and presence, whether you are physically there or connected remotely.
What is an example of attend in a sentence?
You might say, 'I attend college three days a week,' or 'Hundreds of people attended the funeral.' It commonly pairs with events, institutions, and gatherings — school, church, a conference, a concert, or a ceremony. In each case, attend simply means the person was there and took part.
Is attend a formal word?
Attend is slightly formal but perfectly ordinary in everyday use. In casual speech people often say 'go to' instead — 'I went to the concert' rather than 'I attended the concert.' Both are correct; attend just sounds a little more polished and is common in writing, invitations, and official contexts.