attended

USAGE SUMMARY

"attended" is a correctly spelled and correctly used word in written English.
You can use it as a verb to describe bringing oneself to a certain place or event, typically for a specific purpose. For example: "John attended his little brother's soccer match to cheer him on."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Back then, it was still widely supposed that every girl's dream was to marry a handsome prince and live happily ever after in a Tyrolean castle attended upon by mice and dressed each morning by bluebirds.

The Guardian - Film

(I confess I felt a lot like John Waters in the 1980s, when he attended – for research purposes, and alone – a Saturday-morning screening of The Care Bears Movie during the notorious McMartin pre-school devil-worship and child-abuse trial).

The Guardian - Film

Jeraj, a 25-year-old from the Hyderi Islamic centre in Streatham, south London, attended the event and was positive about Clegg's responses.

The Guardian

First-aid teams attended people fainting, while even Obama appeared too hot in his shirt sleeves.

The Guardian

Separately, the controller of drama commissioning Ben Stephenson forked out £1,272.94 for a "development meeting" with "key drama indies" on 17 August, which 19 guests attended at a cost to the licence-fee payer of just under £70 a head.

The Guardian

He attended the AGM, but did not take public questions from shareholders or journalists.

The Guardian - Business

Anka also attended a famous performance of Verdi's Requiem, conducted by Rafael Schächter and accompanied by him on a harmonium.

The Guardian - Music

Having attended both comprehensive and private secondary schools, and been educated at home because of illness, she may be more open to new thinking than some of her predecessors.

The Guardian

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "I can confirm that the Queen this morning attended her annual medical checkup at the King Edward VII's hospital in London.

The Guardian

As Zanu-PF supporters celebrated the national election commission announcement, Tsvangirai and other MDC leaders held a press conference that was attended by the British and other western ambassadors.

The Guardian

I attended a preview and was hopeful that it would reflect my experiences.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger verbs if passive presence is not the intent. For example, use "participated" if the person engaged actively.

Common error

Avoid using "attended" when the person's role was merely observational or incidental. Instead, use words like "witnessed" or "observed" to convey the correct meaning.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "attended" is as the past tense and past participle of the verb "attend". It signifies the action of being present at a specific event, meeting, or location. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples illustrating its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

31%

Science

12%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Encyclopedias

6%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "attended" is the past tense of the verb "attend", indicating presence at an event or location. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and widely used. It is most frequently found in news and media, formal and business contexts, and science, conveying factual information about someone's presence. When writing, ensure "attended" accurately reflects presence and consider alternatives like "participated" for active involvement. Avoid misusing it for passive observation. By understanding its nuances and contexts, you can confidently use "attended" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was at

A simpler way to indicate presence at a place or event.

was present at

Focuses on physical presence at an event or location.

participated in

Highlights active participation rather than just presence.

took part in

Emphasizes active involvement or participation in an event.

showed up at

An informal way to say someone was present, sometimes unexpectedly.

sat in on

Implies passively attending a meeting or session.

made an appearance at

Highlights the act of showing up, often briefly or for a specific purpose.

graced with one's presence

A more formal or humorous way to say someone was at an event.

visited

Indicates a brief or temporary presence at a location.

was a visitor to

Stresses the role of being a visitor.

FAQs

How can I use "attended" in a sentence?

"Attended" indicates presence at an event or place. For example, "She "attended" the conference" or "He "attended" the meeting".

What are some alternatives to the word "attended"?

Alternatives include "was present at", "took part in", "participated in", or "was at", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "attended to" instead of "attended"?

"Attended to" has a different meaning, implying taking care of or paying attention to something. Use "attended" to mean being present at an event. For instance, "The doctor "attended to" the patient" versus "The doctor "attended" the seminar".

What is the difference between "attended" and "participated"?

"Attended" simply means being present, while "participated" implies active involvement. You "attended" the lecture by being in the audience, but you "participated" by asking questions.