tend

verb

(with to) To look after (e.g. an ill person.)

To accompany as an assistant or protector; to care for the wants of; to look after; to watch; to guard.

To wait (upon), as attendants or servants; to serve; to attend.

(followed by a to-infinitive) To be likely, or probable to do something, or to have a certain habit or leaning.

(intransitive) To contribute to or toward some outcome.

(law, Old English law) To make a tender of; to offer or tender.

(transitive, nautical) To manage (an anchored vessel) when the tide turns, to prevent it from entangling the cable when swinging.

(transitive, now chiefly dialectal) To kindle; ignite; set on fire; light; inflame; burn.

(obsolete) To await; to expect.

(obsolete) To be attentive to; to note carefully; to attend to.

Roots

tendotend- · Latin · stretch

Synonyms for tend

gravitatev inclinen leanadj

Synonyms & related words for tend

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Words related to tend

Explore words related to tend — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include tendency, usually, generally, typically, prefer, often, normally, seem. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for tend

Common synonyms for tend include gravitate, incline, lean — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does tend come from?

The word tend breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root tend-, from Latin tendo (“stretch”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.