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.

What's left is usually enough depth to catch attention and cater to hyper-short attention spans. —

Expert Panel®, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025 Newsletter Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news Your pupils say a lot about you — about your mental state, your attention span, your arousal, and your intelligence. —

Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 1 Jan. 2025 Our attention spans, tolerance for boredom, and curiosity about the real world around us have been hijacked by the digital revolution. —

Michael Chad Hoeppner, TIME, 27 Dec. 2024 Share [Findings] Neuropsychologists developed a shorter IQ test for children with shorter attention spans. —

Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 22 Jan. 2025 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

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Attention span.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attention%20span. Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.

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