Meaning & use

attentive

adjective·Academic

Paying close attention to someone or something; observant and mindful of details or needs.

See it in a sentence

The attentive waiter refilled our glasses before we even had to ask.

Attentive students noticed the small error the teacher had made on the board.

A note on using this word

Attentive often implies care for others' needs, not just focus, as in an attentive host or an attentive listener.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

inattentivedistracted

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