If you give someone or something your attention, you look at it, listen to it, or think about it carefully.
You have my undivided attention.
Later he turned his attention to the desperate state of housing in the province.
...young children with short attention spans.
Synonyms: thinking, thought, mind, notice More Synonyms of attention
2. uncountable noun
Attention is great interest that is shown in someone or something, particularly by the general public.
The property has already attracted considerable attention from overseas buyers.
The conference may help to focus attention on the economy.
3. uncountable noun
If someone or something is getting attention, they are being dealt with or cared for.
Each year more than two million household injuries need medical attention.
...a demanding baby who seems to want attention 24 hours a day.
Synonyms: care, support, concern, treatment More Synonyms of attention
4. plural noun
You can refer to someone's efforts to help you, or the interest they show in you, as their attentions, especially if you dislike or disapprove of them.
The singer had lately been subjected to the unwanted attentions of a stalker. [+ of]
The meeting was held away from the attentions of the media.
5. uncountable noun [usually with poss]
If you bring something to someone's attention or draw their attentionto it, you tell them about it or make them notice it.
If we don't keep bringing this to the attention of the people, nothing will be done. [+ of]
We conclude by drawing attention to the issues around which the debate should focus.
6.
See to attract someone's attention
7.
See pay attention
8.
See stand to attention/stand at attention
More Synonyms of attention
attention in British English
(əˈtɛnʃən)
noun
1.
concentrated direction of the mind, esp to a problem or task
2.
consideration, notice, or observation
a new matter has come to our attention
3.
detailed care or special treatment
to pay attention to one's appearance
4. (usually plural)
an act of consideration, courtesy, or gallantry indicating affection or love
attentions given to a lover
5.
the motionless position of formal military alertness, esp in drill when an upright position is assumed with legs and heels together, arms to the sides, head and eyes facing to the front
6. psychology
the act of concentrating on any one of a set of objects or thoughts
See also selective attention
sentence substitute
7.
the order to be alert or to adopt a position of formal military alertness
Word origin
C14: from Latin attentiō, from attendere to apply the mind to; see attend
attention in American English
(əˈtɛnʃən)
noun
1.
a.
the act of keeping one's mind closely on something or the ability to do this; mental concentration
b.
mental readiness for such concentration
2.
notice or observation
her smile caught my attention
3.
care or consideration
the matter will receive his immediate attention
4.
a.
thoughtful consideration for others
b.
an act of consideration, courtesy, or devotion
usually used in pl.
a suitor's attentions to a woman
5. Military
a.
the erect, motionless posture of soldiers in readiness for another command
b.
a command to assume this posture
Word origin
L attentio < pp. of attendere: see attend
Examples of 'attention' in a sentence
attention
The average human attention span online is now eight seconds.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Paying close attention to detail helps you make an important discovery at work.
The Sun (2017)
We must pay great attention because when you arrive after three defeats you are very dangerous.
The Sun (2017)
And what of the elderly who need care and medical attention?
The Sun (2016)
My attention is on something other than what can go wrong.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Yet it gets relatively little attention.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Much like the referendum itself it seems inevitable that any election campaign would focus public attention on splits within the governing party.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Stand to attention in this one from Mango.
The Sun (2016)
In short, online exposure, plus the attention of the local property expert to carry out the valuation and conduct viewings.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This question has received surprisingly little attention from critics.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
This is a man with a very short attention span.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Your logical mind and attention to detail helps you spot differences in puzzles.
The Sun (2006)
Did he receive all the attention he should have?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Yet despite the frenzied media attention there has been little to report.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
This will balance your features and draw attention away from your nose.
The Sun (2014)
The properties of similar potential scandals that somehow escape attention are thus not studied.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We have focused our attention there for this reason.
Richard Fortey THE EARTH: An Intimate History (2004)
With mindfulness you focus your attention on one of your senses.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Yet the sight of such attention to education also spooked me.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The profile or attention is not something he needs.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We also draw attention to some interesting aspects of the behavior of firms issuing these securities.
Charles A. D'Ambrosio & Stewart D. Hodges & Richard Brealey & Stewart Myers Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)
You would be well advised to pay attention to what happened next.
The Sun (2013)
This care and this attention have gone still farther.
Eccleshall, Robert English Conservatism since the Restoration: An introduction and anthology (1990)
You need urgent medical attention because it can make you very ill very quickly.
The Sun (2016)
These albums got little attention and have long been deleted.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The first is that the average human attention span has gone down.
Christianity Today (2000)
You may feel unworthy of the attention and help people offer you.
Wallace, Louise M & Bundy, Christine Coping with Angina (1990)
Clearly, when we work on reports on sensitive stories there is always attention that local innocent names are not mentioned.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
I had first come to the attention of social services when I was less than three months old.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
attention
British English: attention /əˈtɛnʃən/ NOUN
If something has your attention or if you are paying attention to it, you have noticed it and are interested in it.
The light attracted his attention.
American English: attention
Arabic: اِنْتِبَاه
Brazilian Portuguese: atenção
Chinese: 注意
Croatian: pažnja
Czech: pozornost
Danish: opmærksomhed
Dutch: aandacht
European Spanish: atención
Finnish: huomio
French: attention
German: Aufmerksamkeit
Greek: προσοχή
Italian: attenzione
Japanese: 注意
Korean: 주의
Norwegian: oppmerksomhet
Polish: uwaga zainteresowanie
European Portuguese: atenção
Romanian: atenție
Russian: внимание
Latin American Spanish: atención
Swedish: uppmärksamhet
Thai: ความตั้งใจ
Turkish: dikkat
Ukrainian: увага
Vietnamese: sự chú ý
All related terms of 'attention'
pay attention
If you pay attention to someone, you watch them, listen to them, or take notice of them. If you pay no attention to someone, you behave as if you are not aware of them or as if they are not important .
attention span
the period of time during which someone's attention is held by something in particular
attention-grabbing
An attention-grabbing remark or activity is one that is intended to make people notice it.
attention-seeking
intended to make people take notice
selective attention
the process by which a person can selectively pick out one message from a mixture of messages occurring simultaneously
stand at attention
When people stand at attention , they stand straight with their feet together and their arms at their sides.
attention deficit disorder
Attention deficit disorder is a condition where people, especially children, are unable to concentrate on anything for very long and so find it difficult to learn and often behave in inappropriate ways . The abbreviation → ADD is often used.
stand to attention/stand at attention
When people stand to attention or stand at attention , they stand straight with their feet together and their arms at their sides.
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a condition where people, especially children , are extremely active and unable to concentrate on anything for very long, with the result that they find it difficult to learn and often behave in inappropriate ways . The abbreviation → ADHD is often used.
to attract someone's attention catch sb's attention
If someone or something attracts your attention or catches your attention , you suddenly notice them.
add
If you add one thing to another, you put it in or on the other thing, to increase, complete , or improve it.
ADHD
ADHD is an abbreviation for → attention deficit hyperactivity disorder .
Chinese translation of 'attention'
attention
(əˈtɛnʃən)
n(u)
(= concentration) 注意 (zhùyì)
(= care) 照料 (zhàoliào)
int
(Mil) 立正 (lìzhèng)
for the attention of ... 收件人为(為) ... (shōujiànrén wéi ... )
it has come to my attention that ... 我已开(開)始注意到 ... (wǒ yǐ kāishǐ zhùyì dào ... )
to draw sb's attention to sth把某人的注意力引向某事 (bǎ mǒurén de zhùyìlì yǐnxiàng mǒushì)
to stand to/at attention (Mil) 立正站着(著) (lìzhèng zhànzhe)
to pay attention (to sth/sb)关(關)注(某事/某人) (guānzhù (mǒushì/mǒurén))
to attract sb's attention吸引某人的注意 (xīyǐn mǒurén de zhùyì)
All related terms of 'attention'
for the attention of ...
收件人为(為) ... shōujiànrén wéi ...
to arrest sb's attention
( frm ) 吸引某人的注意力 xīyǐn mǒurén de zhùyìlì
to attract sb's attention
吸引某人的注意 xīyǐn mǒurén de zhùyì
to distract sb's attention
分散某人的注意力 fēnsàn mǒurén de zhùyìlì
to escape sb's attention
避开(開)某人的注意 bìkāi mǒurén de zhùyì
to stand to/at attention
( Mil ) 立正站着(著) lìzhèng zhànzhe
to be the focus of attention
为(為)关(關)注的焦点(點) wéi guānzhù de jiāodiǎn
to catch sb's attention or eye
引起某人的注意 yǐnqǐ mǒurén de zhùyì
to direct one's attention to sth
把注意力集中于(於)某物 bǎ zhùyìlì jízhōng yú mǒuwù
to divert (sb's) attention from sth
转(轉)移(某人)对(對)某事的注意力 zhuǎnyí (mǒurén) duì mǒushì de zhùyìlì