To give care, attention, or service to someone or something.
To take care of something or someone that needs your help.
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
To deal with or take care of a task or matter.
"Please attend to the urgent emails before you leave for the day."
I have matters to attend to.
— Common formal English expression, widely used in literary and professional contexts
To give care or assistance to a person, especially a customer, patient, or guest.
"The nurse attended to the patient's injuries quickly and efficiently."
The doctor who attended to him said he was lucky to be alive.
— Common journalistic phrasing, widely attested in news reporting
To pay close attention to something, such as an instruction or speech.
"Students are expected to attend to the instructions before beginning the exam."
More formal than 'deal with' or 'see to'. Common in professional settings such as medicine, customer service, and business. Often implies a sense of duty or obligation. Frequently heard in service contexts: 'Someone will attend to you shortly.'
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Listen to native speakers using "attend to" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.