What does "tend" mean?

1. (to be likely to) to be likely to behave in a particular way or have a certain habit. 2. (to look after) to take care of someone or something, like a garden or a sick person. 3. (to lead toward) to move or point in a certain direction or toward a result. 4. (nautical management) to manage a boat's position when the tide changes.

How do you use "tend"?

Usually followed by 'to' and another verb.

tend

US //ˈtɛnd// UK //tˈɛnd// tend

1 to be likely to (v.)
B1 Intermediate

to be likely to behave in a particular way or have a certain habit.

to be likely to do something or to happen in a particular way; often used as a catenative verb followed by a 'to'-infinitive.

Example

I tend to wake up early on weekends even when I don't have to.

Example

Prices tend to fluctuate during the holiday season as demand for luxury goods reaches its annual peak.

Usage

Usually followed by 'to' and another verb.
- incline
- lean
2 to look after (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to take care of someone or something, like a garden or a sick person.

to care for or look after someone or something; transitive use requiring a direct object.

Example

He spent the whole afternoon tending his vegetable garden.

Example

The nurse remained by the bedside throughout the night to tend the patient's wounds and monitor her vital signs.
- neglect
- ignore

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3 to lead toward (v.)
C1 Advanced Formal

to move or point in a certain direction or toward a result.

to move, lean, or contribute toward a particular direction, result, or outcome.

Example

Recent developments tend toward a peaceful solution to the conflict.

Example

The evidence presented during the trial seemed to tend toward a verdict of innocence, though the jury remained undecided for days.
- contribute
- lead
4 nautical management (v.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Nautical

to manage a boat's position when the tide changes.

to manage an anchored vessel during a tide change to prevent the cable from becoming fouled.

Example

The crew had to tend the ship carefully as the tide turned in the narrow bay.

Example

Failure to tend the vessel during the swing resulted in the anchor chain becoming entangled with the rudder assembly.
- manage
- manoeuvre

Etymology 1

From Middle English *tenden, from Old French tendre (“to stretch, stretch out, hold forth, offer, tender”), from Latin tendere (“to stretch, stretch out, extend, spread out”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English tenden, by apheresis of attenden (“to attend”). More at attend.

Etymology 3

From Middle English tenden, from Old English tendan (“to kindle, set on fire”) (usually in compounds ātendan, fortendan, ontendan), from Proto-Germanic *tandijaną (“to kindle”), of unknown origin. Cognate with Danish tænde (“to kindle”), Swedish tända (“to ignite”), Gothic 𐍄𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌾𐌰𐌽 (tandjan, “to kindle”), Icelandic tendra (“to ignite”), German zünden (“to light, ignite, fire”). Related to tinder.

Word family

Verbtend
Nountendency