attentive

1 of 2

adjective

at·​ten·​tive ə-ˈten-tiv 

1

: mindful, observant

attentive to what he is doing

2

: heedful of the comfort of others : solicitous

an attentive waitress

3

: offering attentions in or as if in the role of a suitor

an attentive boyfriend

attentively adverb

attentiveness noun

attentiveness

2 of 2

noun

at·​ten·​tive·​ness

ə-ˈten-tiv-nəs also a-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being attentive

Synonyms of attentive

Adjective

• focused
• immersed
• absorbed
• interested

Examples of attentive in a Sentence

Adjective

The hospital is proud of its attentive staff.

Our waiter was very attentive.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Service is attentive and well-informed, but Pirshirazi is the educator. — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Everyone from the front-desk employees to the housekeepers to the yoga instructors were helpful and attentive. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Hearing so many isolated instrumental tracks does make for some discoveries that maybe were already obvious to the most attentive Beatles buffs, but might still be surprising to others of us. — Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Oct. 2026

The preschoolers who had a tough time delaying gratification— who ate the first marshmallow—were less academically and socially skilled, eloquent, attentive, and not as good at managing frustration in adolescence. — Joan M. Cook, Time, 3 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see attend

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for attentive

• agentive
• incentive
• inventive
• preventive
• retentive
• disincentive
• inattentive

Kids Definition

attentive

adjective

at·​ten·​tive ə-ˈtent-iv 

1

: paying attention

2

: thoughtful for the welfare or comfort of others : courteous

attentively adverb

attentiveness noun