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, or attending 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

From Old French attentif

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Examples

  • His gaze was level, open, his expression attentive and intelligent.

    Black Dust Mambo Adrian Phoenix 2010

  • Pressures on ratings and earnings will likely continue over the next few months suggesting that investors must remain attentive to specific credit concerns.

    2002 Investment Outlook 2002

  • He blinked and tried to keep his expression attentive and humble.

    Omnibus Lackey, Mercedes 1993

  • He blinked and tried to keep his expression attentive and humble.

    The Otherworld Lackey, Mercedes 1992

  • 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.

    The History of Emily Montague 1769

  • I agree that we all must of course remain attentive.

    Home on the Range? 2008

  • 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

  • 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?

    Karin Luisa: Taking Peyote in a Navajo Tipi Ceremony 2009

  • 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

  • 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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