English Reference
verb · noun · adjective

attending

v. · n. · adj.
US /əˈtɛndɪŋ/ UK /ɐtˈɛndɪŋ/ at·tend·ing UK spelling attendings

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    v.the act of going to or being at an event, like a meeting or a school.

    v.the present participle of 'attend', used to describe the act of being present at a scheduled event or institution.

    Simple

    Attending the weekly meetings is a requirement for all staff members.

    In context

    Attending the conference provided the researchers with a valuable opportunity to network with international colleagues in their field.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced American English Medicine

    n.a senior doctor in a hospital who supervises other doctors and students.

    n.a senior staff physician at a hospital who has completed residency and supervises junior doctors and medical students.

    Simple

    The attending told the medical students to check the patient's heart rate again.

    In context

    After reviewing the test results, the attending decided to adjust the patient's medication before the morning rounds concluded.

    Usage

    Often used as a noun in clinical settings to refer to the person in charge of a patient's care.

    Teacher's tip

    This is the standard term in the US and Canada; the British equivalent is usually 'consultant'.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency FormalLiterary

    adj.happening at the same time as something else.

    adj.occurring as a consequence or accompaniment to something else; concomitant.

    Simple

    The high fever and attending aches made it impossible for him to work.

    In context

    The rapid expansion of the city brought many attending problems, such as increased traffic and a shortage of affordable housing.

At first I felt like an impostor, as if I was attending a party I hadn’t been invited to.

The Guardian· 14 Aug 2026

The players had been accused of assaulting the woman, known as EM, in a hotel room in 2018 in London, Ontario, where they had been attending a gala.

BBC News· 13 Aug 2026

From attend + -ing.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Common
Updated