tended; tending; tends
2
: to move, direct, or develop one's course in a particular direction
cannot tell where society is tending
tended; tending; tends
1
: to pay attention : apply oneself
tend to your own affairs
tend to our correspondence
2
: to act as an attendant : serve
tended to his wife
3
archaic
: listen
4
obsolete
: await
1
2
: to stand by (something, such as a rope) in readiness to prevent mischance (such as fouling)
3
archaic
: to attend as a servant
Synonyms
Verb (1)
Verb (2)
Examples of tend in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 2 May 2024
Sightings of birds outside their natural wintering and breeding areas tend to attract the attention of birders, who are known to drop everything to travel to such spots to spot the birds for themselves.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 2 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for tend 
Verb
Researchers have long known that people tend to develop ME/CFS after viral infections.
—Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 2 May 2024
Sightings of birds outside their natural wintering and breeding areas tend to attract the attention of birders, who are known to drop everything to travel to such spots to spot the birds for themselves.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 2 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for tend
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tend.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Tend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tend. Accessed 6 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tend
1 of 2 verb1
: to pay attention
tend to business
2
a
: to take care of
b
: to help the growth or development of
tend the garden
3
: to have responsibility for as caretaker
tended sheep
4
: to manage the operation of or do the necessary work connected with
tend the fire
tend
2 of 2 verb1
: to move or turn in a certain direction
the road tends to the right
2
: to be likely
a person who tends to slouch
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