tending (A2)

verb

Pronunciation: /ˈtɛndɪŋ/

Definition

Taking care of or looking after someone or something, often with the implication of providing for their needs or helping them to recover.

Examples

• The gardener spent all morning tending to the delicate rose bushes.

• She is tending to her elderly mother, ensuring she has everything she needs.

• He is tending to the campfire, adding more wood to keep it burning.

How to Use tending

tend to (collocation)

To be likely to do or behave in a particular way. — "He tends to forget his keys."

tend to (prepositional phrase)

To care for or look after someone or something. — "She is tending to her garden."

tend towards (phrasal verb)

To move in a particular direction or develop a particular characteristic. — "The conversation tended towards politics."

Synonyms of tending

Words with a similar meaning to tending:

• caring for
• looking after
• nurturing
• ministering to

Antonyms of tending

Words with the opposite meaning to tending:

• neglecting
• abandoning

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