attention span

noun

: the length of time during which one (such as an individual or a group) is able to concentrate or remain interested

Examples of attention span in a Sentence

people with short attention spans
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Trump is reportedly shown a daily two-minute video montage of successful strikes on Iran to keep him up to date on the war, a kind of private military TikTok feed for a Commander-in-Chief with a toddler’s attention span. Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026 Trump has a child’s attention span, a megalomaniac’s urge for a ribbon cutting before his term ends, zero willingness to listen to anyone who doesn not agree with him, and — most of all — an unshakable belief that his taste and judgment is far better than any arts commission’s. Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 1 Apr. 2026 Both Allen and Raye challenge the listener to keep up with the plot twists, defying all the conventional wisdom about the audience’s attention span these days. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2026 To do so, the PepsiCo unit wants to grab the attention of younger consumers on social and digital media, where interactive technology gives rise to scrolling, swiping and other short-attention span behaviors. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for attention span

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of attention span was in 1903

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Attention span.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attention%20span. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

attention span

noun
: the length of time during which one is able to concentrate or remain interested
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