DictionaryAI

tend

verb
TEND/tɛnd/

Formstends, tending, tended

11 meanings of tend

Practice

  1. 1
    be likelyverbintransitive
    To be likely to do something, or to usually act in a certain way.

    Like a plant that always grows toward the light.

    Cats tend to sleep for most of the day.

    She tends to overprepare before any important meeting.

    UsageSay tend to + a verb: tend to sleep, tends to forget.

  2. 2
    care for thingsverbtransitive
    To take care of plants, animals, or things so they stay in good shape.

    Can you tend the fire while I go get more wood?

    Grandpa tends his tomato plants every morning before breakfast.

    UsageSay tend the garden or tend to the garden.

    Similarmind, maintain, cultivate

    Oppositeneglect

    Note
  3. 3
    lead towardverbintransitive
    To help bring about a certain result.

    Like many small streams that all flow toward the same river.

    The new facts tend to show that he was telling the truth.

    Every small kindness tends to build trust between neighbors.

    UsageOften tend to show something, or tend toward a result.

    Similarlead, contribute

    Note
  4. 4
    see toverbintransitive
    To spend time dealing with a job, problem, or need, as in "tend to your work".

    I have a few chores to tend to before dinner.

    She tended to her emails first thing in the morning.

    Usagetend to a problem means deal with it; tend to + a verb means usually do it.

    Similarattend, handle

    Oppositeneglect, ignore

  5. 5
    help the hurtverbtransitive
    To care for someone who is sick or needs help.

    Like looking after a friend who is too sick to get out of bed.

    She stayed home to tend her sick mother.

    Nurses tend the patients through the night.

    UsageSay tend a sick person or tend to a sick person.

    Similarnurse, attend

    Oppositeneglect

    Note

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1, 3

From Latin "tendere," meaning "to stretch out," which came into English through Old French.

Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Meanings 2, 4–8

A shortened form of the word "attend."

Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 1 fact