tend (to)

verb

Definition of tend (to)next
1
as in to minister (to)

Related Words

Relevance
2
as in to cotton (to)

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tend (to)
  1. like
  2. prefer
  3. gravitate
  4. favor
Verb
  • But Alonso also likes to offset the industrial nature of concrete with warmth.
    — Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2026
  • And that’s why Howard Zinn has sold 5 million copies, because teenagers sort of like to be in on something.
    — Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
Definition of like
Verb
  • Under owner Arte Moreno, the Angels have resisted rebuilding, preferring to add lower-tier free agents and rush college players to the major leagues in an effort to field a competitive roster.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Ice plant sounds like the sort of thing that would prefer a cooler climate, but Delosperma cooperi thrives in warm, dry weather.
    — Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 6 July 2026
Definition of prefer
Verb
  • Gold is a safe-haven asset that investors gravitate toward when economic and political turmoil erupts, sending waves through the markets.
    — Liz Knueven, CNBC, 2 July 2026
  • This smartwatch is for the off-grid athletes and adventurers, like many users who often gravitate toward Garmin wearables.
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 1 July 2026
Definition of gravitate
Verb
  • If an island getaway is favored, there are plenty of options across the globe to choose from, all with pristine beaches and seaside charm.
    — Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
  • After Ecuador’s disappointing draw against Curaçao, against which it had been heavily favored, Hernandez reëvaluated his plans.
    — Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 6 July 2026
Definition of favor
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

tends (to)
tend (to)
tenebrific
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tend (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tend%20%28to%29. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All