paying attention; listening carefully; observant - (postpositive) often followed by to:
careful to fulfil the needs or wants (of); considerate (about)
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
at•ten•tive /əˈtɛntɪv/USA pronunciation adj.
at•ten•tive•ness, n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- showing attention:attentive students.
- thoughtful of others;
polite:was attentive to his aging mother.
at•ten•tive•ness, n. [uncountable]
at•ten•tive
(ə ten′tiv),USA pronunciation adj.
at•ten′tive•ly, adv.
at•ten′tive•ness, n.
- characterized by or giving attention;
observant:an attentive audience. - thoughtful of others;
considerate;
polite;
courteous:an attentive host.
- Middle French; see attent, -ive
- late Middle English (Scots) 1375–1425
at•ten′tive•ness, n.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged . heedful, mindful, aware, alert, awake, watchful.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged . indifferent, apathetic, unconcerned.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'attentive' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
absent
- absent-minded
- advertent
- alert
- assiduous
- attent
- beau
- careful
- diligent
- ear
- eye
- gallant
- hand
- heedful
- inadvertent
- inattentive
- inspective
- it
- lovely
- massage
- mindful
- minute
- note
- obsequious
- observant
- observe
- particular
- pernickety
- punctilious
- qui vive
- regardful
- regardless
- sharp
- shine
- solicitous
- tenty
- thorough
- thoughtful
- watch
- watchful
- wistful