tends

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 & related words for tends

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Words related to tends

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

Where does tends come from?

The word tends 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.