# attention

Pronunciation: say "uh-TEN-shuhn" /əˈtɛn.ʃn̩/

## Noun

1. Mental focus directed toward a particular thing or task.
   - Simple: The act of focusing your mind on one thing.
   - _Her attention drifted as the lecture wore on._
   - _It takes real attention to follow the argument closely._
2. Practical care, such as treatment or repairs, given to a person or thing that needs it.
   - Simple: Care that a person or thing needs, like a doctor's help or fixing something that is broken.
   - _Several passengers received medical attention at the scene, but none were seriously hurt._
   - _The roof will need urgent attention before winter, or the leaks will only get worse._
3. An act or remark that shows concern for or interest in someone, especially romantic interest.
   - Simple: A caring act or word that shows you like or care about someone.
   - _She welcomed his attention but wasn't ready for romance._
   - _The unwanted attentions of a persistent suitor left her uneasy._
5. A formal standing position of military alertness, with the body held straight and still.
   - Simple: A straight, still standing position used by soldiers.
   - _The recruits remained at attention for several minutes in the heat._
   - _On the order, the platoon came to attention._

## Interjection

4. Said to make a group fall quiet and pay heed to what they are about to be told or shown.
   - Simple: Said to make people stop and listen to what comes next.
   - _Attention, class! Put your books away and look up here._
   - _Attention, shoppers: the store will close in ten minutes._
6. A military command ordering soldiers to assume the upright, still position of alertness.
   - Simple: A command telling soldiers to stand straight and still.
   - _"Attention!" the drill instructor bellowed, and the recruits stiffened._
   - _The corporal gave the order, "Attention!" and the column froze._

## Other meanings

- (noun) A neural-network technique that assigns soft weights across input tokens to decide which parts matter most when computing an output.

## Origin

From Middle English attencioun, borrowed from Latin attentio, from attendere ("to attend, give heed to"), formed on its past participle attentus. It is essentially "attend" plus the suffix "-tion."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/attention (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).