attention
From Old French 'atencion', from Latin 'attentio', stemming from 'attendere' meaning 'to stretch toward'.
NOUN
(1)
[/əˈtɛn.ʃən/en-US]
The act or power of fixing the mind on something; careful consideration or notice. It refers to the mental effort directed towards a specific object, idea, or activity, often implying a state of being aware or interested.
| plural |
|---|
| attentions |
- She gave her full attention to the lecturer's words. — She listened very carefully to the lecturer.
- The bright colors immediately caught the child's attention. — The child noticed the bright colors right away.
- Please pay attention to the safety instructions. — Please listen carefully and follow the safety instructions.
- He tried to divide his attention between the two challenging tasks. — He attempted to focus on two difficult jobs simultaneously.
VERB
(1)
[/əˈtɛnʃən/en-US]
While the word "attention" is primarily used as a noun, the concept of giving or directing focus is expressed in English through various verb phrases such as "to pay attention," "to draw attention," or "to bring something to someone's attention." It is not commonly used as a standalone verb in modern English.
- The teacher asked the students to pay attention during the lesson. — The teacher requested the students to focus and listen.
- His unusual hat drew a lot of attention. — Many people noticed his unusual hat.
- We need to bring this issue to the management's attention immediately. — We must inform the management about this problem right away.
- You should always give your full attention to the road while driving. — You should always focus completely on the road when driving.