attending
8 synonyms for attending, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Being present at, or accompanying, an event or situation.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
supervising
ministrant
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adj
Being present at, or accompanying, an event or situation.
“All attending members were asked to sign in.”
2. noun
A senior doctor on a hospital staff who supervises patient care and training doctors.
“All the new interns had heard of his operative speed, his finesse under the attending's glare, and his memorization of the current surgical literature.”
Etymology
Formed from attend and -ing.
Full origin of attending →Frequently asked questions
What does “attending” mean?
The word “attending” means being present at, or accompanying, an event or situation. In plain terms, as an adjective, being present; as a noun (mainly US hospital slang), the senior supervising physician.
How do you pronounce “attending”?
“Attending” is pronounced uh-TEHN-dihng (/əˈtɛndɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “attending” in a sentence?
Here is “attending” used in a sentence: “All attending members were asked to sign in.”
What part of speech is “attending”?
Depending on how it is used, “attending” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “attending” a common word?
“Attending” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “attending” have?
“Attending” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: being present at, or accompanying, an event or situation.
What is the difference between an attending and a resident?
An attending is a senior doctor who has finished training and supervises patient care as well as junior doctors. A resident is a physician still completing supervised postgraduate training, so an attending oversees the residents on a hospital team.
What is the difference between attending and attendant?
Attending is used as an adjective meaning present at an event, or as a noun for a supervising senior doctor. Attendant is a separate word meaning a person who assists or serves others, such as a flight attendant, so the two should not be confused.
Is an attending the same as a consultant in British English?
The roles are broadly equivalent: an attending in American hospitals and a consultant in British hospitals are both senior, fully qualified doctors who lead patient care and supervise trainees. The main difference is regional terminology rather than the level of seniority.
