1. Home
2. Idioms
3. tend

tend

---

---

tend to do something

to have a tendency to do something. Jill tends to play with her hair while she works. Sam tends to say things like that when he is upset.

See also: tend

tend toward something

to have a tendency to display a certain characteristic. Roger tends toward the dramatic. We all tend toward bad humor during bad weather.

See also: tend, toward

tend to

1. Apply one's attention, as in We should tend to our business, which is to teach youngsters. This term uses tend in the sense of "attend." [1300s]

2. Be disposed or inclined, as in We tend to believe whatever we are told. This term uses tend in the sense of "have a tendency." [c. 1600]

See also: tend

tend to

v.

To apply one's attention to something; attend to something: I must tend to my chores before I can go outside.

See also: tend

tend toward

v.

1. To have a tendency toward something: Most kinds of paint tend toward peeling over time.

2. To be disposed or inclined toward something: Many children tend toward exaggeration.

3. To move or extend in some direction: Our ship tended toward the northern coast.

See also: tend, toward