1
as in to watch
to take charge of especially on behalf of another
tend the store while I run an errand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to grow
to look after or assist the growth of by labor and care
lately I haven't been doing a good job of tending my garden
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
4
as in to manage
to look after and make decisions about
the dying patriarch wondered who would tend the family business after he was gone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of tend
Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 18 May 2026
Patient satisfaction tends to be high.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 May 2026
Some were left behind in backyards for new homeowners who never wanted to tend to a colossal reptile.
—Alina Hartounian, NPR, 18 May 2026
But, like a friendly ghost, the AI tends to bring the sleep topic back into the chat.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tend
Verb
Why daily synbiotic meals matter for gut health Experts tend to agree that whole foods should always come before supplements whenever possible.
—Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 18 May 2026
Patient satisfaction tends to be high.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 May 2026
Some were left behind in backyards for new homeowners who never wanted to tend to a colossal reptile.
—Alina Hartounian, NPR, 18 May 2026
But, like a friendly ghost, the AI tends to bring the sleep topic back into the chat.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tend
Verb
-
Where Soap was straightforwardly in the realm of sitcom—leaning toward broad humor, underlined stylistically by the presence of a laugh track—Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman knew just how to strike that sweet spot between screw-loose absurdity and genuine pathos.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
With Virginia keeping its current congressional map, which currently has six Democrats and five Republicans, Democratic candidates face the prospect of either running in a GOP-leaning district or of mounting primary bids to incumbent Democrats.—
Oren Oppenheim,
ABC News,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
For a closer look, ask the concierge to arrange a whale-watching boat ride.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
-
As the performers take the stage for the glitzy grand final on Saturday, many watching will hope the controversy of the run-up is left well behind.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Kreith advises using heavy duty cages for tomatoes, arches for beans, stakes for peppers and eggplant, and a trellis for cucumbers, which grow as a vine.—
Donna Vickroy,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
Isaac Rangaswami, a former tech-company copywriter, first grew a following around an Instagram account called @caffs_not_cafes, which highlighted historic, low-key, unheralded London canteens.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Picking a pineapple in Upcountry In the 1960s, Hawaii produced 80 percent of the world’s pineapple—the fruit was synonymous with the state—and on the slopes of Haleakala, Maui Gold Pineapple was queen, cultivating 10,000 acres of the sweetest fruit around.—
Laura Dannen Redman,
Robb Report,
14 May 2026
-
Today, Fingerboard cultivates hemp, a type of cannabis that, unlike marijuana, is nonintoxicating and widely considered a wellness product.—
William Deffaa,
Baltimore Sun,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Rescue crews managed to pull 13 survivors from the lake, including a child, while five others were pronounced dead at the scene.—
Jessica Mekles,
FOXNews.com,
20 May 2026
-
If his film’s fetishized heroine manages to claw her way back out by the end, conquering her daddy issues and taking on the boogeyman, most of us are still stuck down there.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Her sisters Maria and Judith manage the circus and supervise show details, respectively.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2026
-
In Europe, Clinique La Prairie in Switzerland has become a flagship for the trend, with weeklong programs supervised by more than 50 specialized doctors and a growing audience of guests in their late thirties and forties focused on prevention.—
Hanna Wickes,
Sacbee.com,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
No wonder that, in the 1940s, France produced ~2B gallons of wine annually, while the US made ~150m gallons.—
Mark Dent,
HubSpot,
15 May 2026
-
Among his earliest campaign donors, according to city filings, is top unscripted producer Jeff Jenkins, known for producing The Simple Life as well as Keeping Up with the Kardashians and its offshoots.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Despite the lawsuit, Young and the Chrome Hearts continued to operate under that moniker, playing a string of gigs together before Young canceled the entirety of their 2026 tour.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
15 May 2026
-
Those relationships matter because the next insurance commissioner cannot operate in a silo.—
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tend. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
