tend

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /tɛnd/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form tend

Third-person singular tends

Past tense tended

Past participle tended

Present participle tending

1. (transitive & intransitive) If something tends to be true, it is often or usually true.

   The streets are very confusing in Tokyo and people tend to get lost.

   A clearly typed paper does tend to get a better mark.

   If we can't understand something, we tend to ignore it.

   Of course, millions of dollars in targeted advertising does tend to increase sales.

2. (transitive) If you tend something, you watch and take care of it.

   The children often help with chores, including cutting the grass and tending the garden.

3. If $x$ tends towards $y$, $x$ is usually $y$.

   My artwork tends towards the modern.

4. If you tend bar, you work at a bar selling drinks.
5. If something tends in a particular direction, you generally moves in that direction.

   The price of gold has tended upward for about three years.

Related words

• tendency