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attend

v.
A2 Elementary Oxford US //əˈtɛnd// UK //ɐtˈɛnd// at·tend Archaic General-service

v. to go to or be present at an event, like a meeting, a class, or a wedding. It is a more formal way to say you are going to something.

v. to be present at an event, meeting, or function. Transitive when referring to specific events; can be used intransitively in the sense of being present regularly.


SIMPLE

I plan to attend the meeting tomorrow morning.

CONTEXTUAL

All students must attend the orientation session to receive their ID cards and campus maps.

COMPLEX

While the CEO could not attend the conference in person, she delivered a keynote address via video link to the hundreds of delegates gathered in the hall.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

PIE word *h₂éd From Middle English attenden, atenden (“to devote oneself (to a task, etc.); to pay attention to (something), to look after; to consider (something); to expect or look forward to (something); to intend to do (something); to help or serve (someone), attend upon; to take care of (something)”), from Old French atendre (“to await, wait for; to expect; to intend”), from Latin attendere, adtendere (“to pay attention to, attend; to direct or turn toward”), from ad- (“prefix meaning ‘to, towards’”) + tendō (“to direct one’s course; to extend, stretch; to exert, strive”). Doublet of attempt and tend.

Usage

The verb is transitive and takes a direct object without a preposition.

Pitfall

I will attend to the meetingI will attend the meetingWhen 'attend' means to be present at an event, it is transitive and does not take the preposition 'to'.

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