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
Examples of tend in a Sentence
Verb (1)
her wardrobe tends toward dark colors and heavy fabrics
Verb (2)
tend the store while I run an errand
lately I haven't been doing a good job of tending my garden
plots that during the war were tended by city dwellers as vegetable gardens
the dying patriarch wondered who would tend the family business after he was gone
Recent Examples on the Web
Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2025
The approval ratings of presidents also tend to rise and fall depending on whether gas prices are up or down.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2025
Notably, the term premium tends to be at its lowest or even negative before an economic recession.
—Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Rumble tends to favor veterans of the Boston scene.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for tend
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Verb
Trump’s successes, including his victory last year, have tended to be larger than expected after the Democrats underestimated his popularity.
—Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2025
The approval ratings of presidents also tend to rise and fall depending on whether gas prices are up or down.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2025
Notably, the term premium tends to be at its lowest or even negative before an economic recession.
—Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Rumble tends to favor veterans of the Boston scene.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for tend
Cite this Entry
“Tend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tend. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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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