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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
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Recent Examples of tend
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 11 Feb. 2025
The venomous creatures tend to mate in the early summer.
—Tanasia Kenney, Sacramento Bee, 11 Feb. 2025
Overstaying a worker or student visa tends to fall in a grayer area under the law, and might result in a ban from returning to the U.S. for three to 10 years, but an overstay would not typically trigger criminal penalties unless other criminal violations are involved.
—Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 10 Feb. 2025
New sales and promotions also tend to start on Wednesdays.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for tend 
Verb
The games tend to spread out among a wide variety of outlets and do not get the hours that men’s leagues get on most outlets devoted to sports.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 11 Feb. 2025
The venomous creatures tend to mate in the early summer.
—Tanasia Kenney, Sacramento Bee, 11 Feb. 2025
Overstaying a worker or student visa tends to fall in a grayer area under the law, and might result in a ban from returning to the U.S. for three to 10 years, but an overstay would not typically trigger criminal penalties unless other criminal violations are involved.
—Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 10 Feb. 2025
New sales and promotions also tend to start on Wednesdays.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for tend
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Cite this Entry
“Tend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tend. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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