tend
gb/tˈɛnd/ us/tˈɛnd/
A2
English
~ 900
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B1
action
1
Be likely or inclined
To usually act in a certain way or usually be a certain type of person or thing.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] tends to [verb]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'tend to' with 'try to'. 'Tend to' means something happens often or naturally, not that someone is making an effort.
Synonyms
be inclined (Slightly more formal; emphasizes a leaning toward a behavior.)
|
be likely (Focuses more on probability than habitual behavior.)
Antonyms
avoid (Deliberately not doing something; opposite of having a tendency toward it.)
Collocations
tend to avoid
|tend to be
|tend to focus
|tend to happen
|tend to occur
Themes
behavior
|habits
|psychology
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- People tend to eat more during the holidays.
- Cats tend to sleep most of the day.
- He tends to forget names easily.
- The weather tends to be rainy in April.
Learner examples
- I tend to wake up early.
- She tends to speak very fast.
- They tend to eat dinner late.
- It tends to rain in the spring.
Verb
A2
action
2
Take care of
To help or look after a person, animal, or thing.
Usage pattern:
to tend [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this meaning with 'tend to' meaning 'be likely to'. Context and object presence clarify usage.
Synonyms
care for (Common and neutral; interchangeable in many cases.)
|
look after (Informal; common in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
neglect (Failing to give proper care or attention.)
Collocations
tend the garden
|tend the sick
|tend animals
|tend the fire
Themes
daily life
|health
|work
|daily_life
|relationships
Examples
- Nurses tend patients with great compassion.
- He spent the afternoon tending his garden.
- She tends her elderly father every day.
- Farmers must tend their crops carefully.
Learner examples
- I tend my plants every morning.
- She tends her baby with love.
- He tends the fire to keep it warm.
- They tend the animals on the farm.
Verb
B2
action
3
Move toward a state
To slowly go toward a certain state or condition.
Usage pattern:
[something] tends toward [noun/adjective]
Synonyms
lean toward (Informal; suggests preference or inclination.)
|
gravitate toward (More formal; emphasizes natural movement toward something.)
Antonyms
diverge from (Move away from a particular direction or state.)
Collocations
tend toward optimism
|tend toward violence
|tend toward minimalism
Themes
change
|trends
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her paintings tend toward abstract styles.
- The discussion tended toward politics by the end of the evening.
- The climate here tends toward dryness.
Learner examples
- My taste in music tends toward jazz.
- The talks tend toward friendly topics.
- The weather tends toward hot summers.
Grammar
Dictionary form
tend
IPA
GB/tˈɛnd/
US/tˈɛnd/
Syllables & stress
tend (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (tend)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: tend
- 3rd Person Singular: tends
- Present Participle: tending
- Past: tended
Word family
Forms
tends
verb
tending
verb
tended
verb
Core family
tendency
noun B1
Negative and opposite forms
untended
adjective
Advanced or less common
tendentious
adjective
tendentiously
adverb
Expressions
tend bar
1/tˈɛnd bˈɑɹ/
fixed phrase
Serve drinks at a bar
To work serving drinks in a bar.
Examples
- He tended bar at a local pub during college.
- She has been tending bar for over ten years.
tend the garden
1/tˈɛnd ðə ɡˈɑɹdən/
fixed phrase
Care for a garden
To look after plants in a garden and keep them healthy.
Examples
- Every morning, he tends the garden before breakfast.
- They spent the weekend tending the garden for spring planting.
tend to do something
1/tˈɛnd tə dˈu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Usually do something
To often do something in certain situations.
Examples
- I tend to forget names if I don’t write them down.
- She tends to get nervous before big meetings.