attentive

[ uh-ten-tiv ]
See synonyms for: attentiveattentivelyattentiveness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. characterized by or giving attention; observant: an attentive audience.

  2. thoughtful of others; considerate; polite; courteous: an attentive host.

Origin of attentive

1
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Middle French; see attent, -ive

Other words for attentive

Opposites for attentive

Other words from attentive

  • at·ten·tive·ly, adverb
  • at·ten·tive·ness, noun
  • o·ver·at·ten·tive, adjective
  • o·ver·at·ten·tive·ly, adverb
  • un·at·ten·tive, adjective
  • un·at·ten·tive·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use attentive in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for attentive

attentive

/ (əˈtɛntɪv) /


adjective
  1. paying attention; listening carefully; observant

  2. (postpositive often foll by to) careful to fulfil the needs or wants (of); considerate (about): she was always attentive to his needs

Derived forms of attentive

  • attentively, adverb
  • attentiveness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012