tend 1 of 2

verb (1)

ˈtend How to pronounce tend (audio)
Definition of tendnext
as in to lean
to show a liking or proneness (for something) her wardrobe tends toward dark colors and heavy fabrics

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tend

2 of 2

verb (2)

1
as in to watch
to take charge of especially on behalf of another tend the store while I run an errand

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2
as in to grow
to look after or assist the growth of by labor and care lately I haven't been doing a good job of tending my garden

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to cultivate
to work by plowing, sowing, and raising crops on plots that during the war were tended by city dwellers as vegetable gardens

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4
as in to manage
to look after and make decisions about the dying patriarch wondered who would tend the family business after he was gone

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tend
Verb
Bogs tend to keep their secrets low to the ground, where colors shift by inches and boundaries blur in gradients of tiny mounds of moss and sedges emerging from pools. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 Goble said El Niño years tend to favor wetter conditions during the shoulder seasons, especially fall and spring. — Callie Zanandrie, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 Other than The Adam Friedland Show, most interview podcasts don’t tend to draw too directly from that format. — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026 What’s more, the cost of unowned quality tends to eventually reach the customer. — Jay Singh, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tend
  1. lean
  2. watch
  3. grow
  4. cultivate
  5. manage
  6. supervise
  7. produce
  8. operate
Verb
  • Tijerina is part of a coalition of Hispanic and Latino voters who have long leaned Democratic but have more recently shown a willingness to vote for both parties.
    — Justin Papp, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Some conservatives have argued that they've been unfairly targeted by financial institutions, although the OCC found that some banks had also refused to do business with Democratic-leaning organizations.
    — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of lean
Verb
  • Halpin watched the ball clear the wall in right-center then launched his bat over his head and into the sky before rounding the bases.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Nevertheless, watching a sports car flip upside down and land on cold-gas jets was proof enough that flying cars are moving out of science fiction and onto the runway.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of watch
Verb
  • Its minimalist aesthetic and discreet approach to luxury perfectly capture the growing desire for versatile bags that transition effortlessly from day to evening.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • There’s the ever-growing collection of vinyl and books overflowing from the lobby lounge’s shelves.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of grow
Verb
  • Vance speaks with the manipulative skill of a politician who has cultivated a rapid-fire style designed not to persuade, but to overwhelm.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The challenge is not racing to construct a synthetic copy but cultivating the capacity to recognize, interface with and leverage what has been present all along.
    — Pravir Malik, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of cultivate
Verb
  • For younger consumers who have always managed much of their lives through apps, these experiences often feel like different versions of the same activity.
    — Aneri Jambusaria, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Separate nozzles also don't solve the problems of bonding incompatible materials or managing different printing temperatures.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of manage
Verb
  • Fisker Automotive said that an internal investigation supervised by transportation regulators found salt corrosion had caused a short circuit in the battery, leading to the fire, rather than a preexisting defect.
    — Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Moton discussed it and his future with numerous people, including his family and Panthers team doctor Nancy Gritter, who supervised much of his care.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of supervise
Verb
  • The three colors are mixed in different combinations and ratios, producing 16 different shades.
    — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 19 Oct. 2026
  • In particular, genes involved in the function of Jonathan's mitochondria -- which are structures inside cells that produce energy -- appeared similar to those from a 5-year-old tortoise named Hatchling.
    — KYLE MELNICK THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of produce
Verb
  • The integration could help American troops operate uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) when adversaries attempt to disrupt battlefield communications.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The team’s last-second win over the Philadelphia Eagles last week in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was organized and operated by the NFL, part of the league’s more standard rotation of all teams playing overseas.
    — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of operate

Browse Nearby Words

tenants
tend
tended
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Cite this Entry

“Tend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tend. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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