Basic Details
Word: Attention
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Careful listening, watching or thinking. It also means care or treatment, as in medical attention.
Synonyms: concentration, focus, notice, care
Antonyms: inattention, neglect
How to Spell Attention
Syllables: at - ten - tion
Tricky part: There are three t's in all: two together at the start and one in tion. The ending is tion, not sion.
Watch out for: atention, attension, attenshun
Memory tip: Two t's stand to attention side by side at the front, and the third waits in tion at the end.
Idioms and Phrases
- Pay attention: To listen to or watch something carefully. Example: "Pay attention to the signal before you cross the road."
Usage Examples
Example 1: Please give your full attention to the safety instructions.
Example 2: The injured kitten needed medical attention at once.
Example 3: The bright poster caught everyone's attention.
Fun Fact
Attention is also a command on the parade ground. At the order, soldiers stand straight and still, heels together and arms at their sides.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. retension 2. mension 3. attention 4. detension
a) careful watching or listening
b) the keeping or holding of something
c) a brief remark about something
d) being kept in school after hours as a punishment
Show answer
a) careful watching or listening. Mention, detention and retention share the tion ending of attention, but only attention carries it here.
Word Connection
Choose the word opposite in meaning to attention as used in the sentence:
The lifeguard's close attention to the swimmers kept everyone safe.
a) neglect
b) concentration
c) notice
d) focus
Show answer
a) neglect. Close attention means careful watching; neglect means failing to look after.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
The flashing lights drew our ttaoeinnt to the broken-down bus.
a) attentive
b) intention
c) attention
d) retention
Show answer
c) attention. Attentive also has three t's but ends in ive, and intention and retention have only two t's; these nine letters, with an o and two n's, make attention.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which word is the adjective of attention?
a) attentive
b) attending
c) attended
d) tension
Show answer
a) attentive
2. If something needs urgent attention, it ____.
a) is not important
b) must be dealt with quickly
c) has already been fixed
d) can wait for months
Show answer
b) must be dealt with quickly
