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
Marc Brackett, Time, 21 Sep. 2025
For example, squirrels will bury and dig up nuts in the lawn and mulched beds, while chipmunks tend to make holes near stumps, buildings and brush piles.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2025
As temperatures rise, bare-root trees planted later in spring tend to break bud earlier, struggling at first because roots haven’t had the opportunity to regenerate.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Sep. 2025
Though the worst effects tend to hit adults over 65 and children under 5, pregnant women can suffer miscarriages and stillbirths.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tend
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Verb
Research shows that people who regularly reappraise their emotions tend to experience less stress and anxiety, have better relationships, and even enjoy better physical health.
—Marc Brackett, Time, 21 Sep. 2025
For example, squirrels will bury and dig up nuts in the lawn and mulched beds, while chipmunks tend to make holes near stumps, buildings and brush piles.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2025
As temperatures rise, bare-root trees planted later in spring tend to break bud earlier, struggling at first because roots haven’t had the opportunity to regenerate.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Sep. 2025
Though the worst effects tend to hit adults over 65 and children under 5, pregnant women can suffer miscarriages and stillbirths.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 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 22 Sep. 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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