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GRE vocabulary

attentive

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore A words

paying close attention to something or someone, or thoughtfully considerate of the needs of others

Word origin: From Latin attendere, to stretch toward (ad- to plus tendere to stretch).

In a sentence

Attentive in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing attentive in a sentence.

The attentive student noticed the subtle error in the professor's argument.

An attentive editor caught the discrepancy that three earlier readers had missed.

Synonyms
alertobservantheedfulconsiderate
Antonyms
inattentivedistractednegligent
Usage & nuance

Using “attentive” well

Attentive carries two related senses: closely focused on something, and considerately mindful of others' needs. Both share the idea of careful, directed attention.

Common questions

Questions about “attentive

Attentive (adjective) means paying close attention to something or someone, or thoughtfully considerate of the needs of others
Here is attentive used in an example sentence: "The attentive student noticed the subtle error in the professor's argument." Another example: "An attentive editor caught the discrepancy that three earlier readers had missed."
Common synonyms for attentive include alert, observant, heedful, considerate.
Antonyms of attentive include inattentive, distracted, negligent.
Attentive pairs with alert, observant, heedful, and considerate in GRE Verbal. Its antonyms inattentive, distracted, and negligent mark the lapse of focus a passage may set against it.
Yes. Attentive is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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