Meaning of attention in English

attention

noun [ U ]

/əˈten.ʃən/ uk

/əˈten.ʃən/

attention noun [U] (NOTICE)

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notice, thought, or interest:

full attention Wait a moment and I'll give you my full attention (= I'll listen to and think about only you).

attention span Children tend to have a short attention span (= They cannot pay attention for long).

draw attention to They're organizing a campaign to draw people's attention to the environmentally harmful effects of using their cars.

your attention wanders After an hour, my attention started to wander (= I stopped taking notice).

get/attract/catch someone's attention

to make someone notice you:

I knocked on the window to get her attention.

pay attention (to something/someone)

to watch, listen to, or think about something or someone carefully or with interest:

If you don't pay attention now, you'll get it all wrong later.

the center of attention

the thing or person that a lot of people notice:

He likes telling jokes and being the center of attention at parties.

attentions [ plural ]

interest, often sexual interest, that someone directs toward a particular person or thing:

She attracted the attentions of a variety of suitors.

He was flattered by her attentions, but did not take them seriously.

I suffered the unwanted attentions of bullies.

turn your attention to something/someone (also turn your attentions to something/someone)

to start to think about or consider a particular thing or person:

Many countries are starting to turn their attention to new forms of energy.

could I/we have your attention

(also can I/we have your attention)

a way of asking people to listen to you:

Ladies and gentlemen, can we have your attention, please?

If I could just have your attention for a moment...

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The war has diverted attention away from the country's economic problems.
Please excuse me from the rest of the meeting - I've just received a phone call that requires my immediate attention.
He neglects that poor dog - he never takes him for walks or gives him any attention.
I prodded her in the back to get her attention.
Pay attention to what she's saying because she won't explain it a second time.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Paying attention and being careful

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Thinking and contemplating

Excitement, interest, energy and enthusiasm

Passive and not working

attention noun [U] (CARE)

[ U ]

special care or treatment:

need attention The paintwork will need a little attention.

medical attention If symptoms persist, seek medical attention.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Medical treatment: treating & caring for people

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attention noun [U] (WAY OF STANDING)

[ U ]

(especially in the armed forces) a way of standing, with the feet together, arms by your sides, head up, and shoulders back, and not moving:

at attention The soldiers stood at attention.

to attention The students snapped to attention when the teacher began class.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Military training & ceremonies

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Sitting and standing

attention

exclamation

/əˈten.ʃən/ uk

/əˈten.ʃən/

military specialized

in the armed forces, an instruction to stand to attention (= not moving, with your feet together, arms by your sides, head up, and shoulders back):

The command comes: "Attention!" The men fire their rifles. The flag is folded.

an instruction for people to listen or look carefully because they need to know something important:

Attention please! Baggage must not be left unattended!

There was a sign at the ticket desk: "Attention! Visitors are informed that there is video surveillance in the building."

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Military training & ceremonies

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Paying attention and being careful

(Definition of attention from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

attention | Intermediate English

attention

noun [ U ]

/əˈten·ʃən/

attention noun [U] (NOTICE)

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the act of directing the mind to listen, see, or understand; notice:

In order to learn anything, you have to pay attention.

It’s hard to command the attention of 23 eight-year-olds.

Let me finish this, then I’ll give you my undivided attention.

attention noun [U] (CARE)

time or effort that you are willing to give to help someone or something because you care about that person or thing:

It’s an old house, and it needs a lot of attention.

attention

exclamation, noun [ U ]

/əˈten·ʃən/

attention exclamation, noun [U] (WAY OF STANDING)

(in the armed forces) an order to stand straight and not move, with your feet together, arms by your sides, and head facing to the front, or this way of standing:

Each cadet stood at attention for inspection.

(Definition of attention from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

attention | Business English

attention

noun

/əˈtenʃən/ us

for the attention of sb ( written abbreviation FAO); ( written abbreviation attn)

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written on an envelope or at the top of a letter to show who should read it:

Letters should be marked for the attention of Jane Mills.

(Definition of attention from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Examples of attention

attention

What are the new platforms we should be paying attention to?

From TechCrunch

But once we do, brands have a direct connection into our private messages, the place on our phones where we pay the most attention.

From WIRED

Right, left or center, all the candidates have gotten their fair share of attention on his show.

From CBS News

Are they looking to divert the attention of their populations from their failing economies that is making life increasingly difficult for most of their citizens?

From Voice of America

The paragraphs about people in challenging situations: the divorced and remarried, those who are cohabiting, etc., get all the attention.

From Chicago Tribune

And he wrote about how he was really sorry that his work had brought this attention on the lab.

From Huffington Post

Of course, the emergence of a new huge and rapidly growing industry has always attracted the attention of journalists.

From TechCrunch

Our social media world is about only paying attention to what you already know and believe.

From Los Angeles Times

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.