Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Paying close attention; alert or observant: synonym: careful.
- adjective Showing care for the needs or desires of others; caring or courteous. synonym: thoughtful.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Characterized by or of the nature of attention; heedful; intent; observant; regarding with care; mindful: as, an attentive ear or eye; an attentive listener; an attentive act.
- Characterized by consideration or observant care; assiduous in ministering to the comfort or pleasure of others; polite; courteous: as, attentive to the ladies.
- Synonyms Regardful, watchful, circumspect, wary, careful, thoughtful, alert.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective Heedful; intent; observant; regarding with care or attention.
- adjective Heedful of the comfort of others; courteous.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective paying
attention ;noticing ,watching ,listening , orattending closely
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective taking heed; giving close and thoughtful attention
- adjective (often followed by `to') giving care or attention
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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His gaze was level, open, his expression attentive and intelligent.
Black Dust Mambo Adrian Phoenix 2010
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Pressures on ratings and earnings will likely continue over the next few months suggesting that investors must remain attentive to specific credit concerns.
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He blinked and tried to keep his expression attentive and humble.
Omnibus Lackey, Mercedes 1993
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He blinked and tried to keep his expression attentive and humble.
The Otherworld Lackey, Mercedes 1992
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There is a certain attentive tenderness, difficult to be described, which the manly of our sex feel, and which is peculiarly pleasing to woman: 'tis also a very delightful sensation to ourselves, as well as productive of the happiest consequences: regarding them as creatures placed by Providence under our protection, and depending on us for their happiness, is the strongest possible tie of affection to a well-turned mind.
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I agree that we all must of course remain attentive.
Home on the Range? 2008
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If you look at the left side of his face his expression is attentive and focused on the conversation.
Crazy Like Us Ethan Watters 2010
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What are these modern upper-class Mexicans seeking, I thought (along with spiritual connection, of course), in embracing these indigenous traditions (which are not theirs) but "flow": some activity that engrosses them, makes life meaningful, and asks them to be "attentive" -- as apparently nothing else had fit the bill?
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The 6 percent Miller identifies as attentive to space represents nearly 11 million adult citizens, and the interested public forms a pool of nearly 30 million citizens.
The Case for Mars Robert Zubrin 1996
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The 6 percent Miller identifies as attentive to space represents nearly 11 million adult citizens, and the interested public forms a pool of nearly 30 million citizens.
The Case for Mars Robert Zubrin 1996
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