Link Centre Dictionary

attention

at·ten·tion

UK/əˈtɛn.ʃn̩/ US/ʌˈtɛnʃʌn/ very common

noun

1.

the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others

Synonyms
Antonyms
2.

the work of caring for or attending to someone or something

  • “no medical care was required”
  • “the old car needed constant attention”
Synonyms
3.

a general interest that leads people to want to know more

  • “She was the center of attention”
4.

a courteous act indicating affection

  • “she tried to win his heart with her many attentions”
5.

the faculty or power of mental concentration

  • “keeping track of all the details requires your complete attention”
6.

a motionless erect stance with arms at the sides and feet together; assumed by military personnel during drill or review

  • “the troops stood at attention”

Origin

From Middle English attencioun, borrowed from Latin attentio, attentionis, from attendere, past participle attentus (“to attend, give heed to”); see attend.

Phrases

  • at attention
  • attention deficit disorder
  • attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
  • attention economy
  • attention getter
  • attention line
  • attention seeker
  • attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.