attendant
/əˈtendənt/ (bre, ipa) · /əˈtendənt/ (ame, ipa) · /ə-ˈten-dənt/ (ame, mw) · /əˈten.dənt/ (bre, ipa) · /əˈten.dənt/ (ame, ipa)
attendant — noun
1. a worker stationed at a particular location, such as a petrol station, car park,
a worker stationed at a particular location, such as a petrol station, car park, or museum cloakroom, whose role is to assist members of the public with a small task or service.
The car-park attendant waved Ines toward an empty bay near the lift.
compound: car-park / parking attendant
Beatriz asked the museum attendant where the Egyptian gallery was.
[type] + attendant pattern
A friendly petrol-station attendant helped Grandma fill the tank.
The pool attendant blew his whistle when two boys ran on the wet tiles.
Flight attendants checked that every passenger had fastened a seatbelt before takeoff.
文法句型
[type] + attendant
用法筆記
Almost always preceded by a noun naming the place or vehicle (parking, museum, flight, petrol-station). Bare 'attendant' without that modifier is rare in this sense.
常見錯誤
2. a person employed to accompany a high-status individual or someone with health o
a person employed to accompany a high-status individual or someone with health or mobility needs, providing close personal support throughout the day.
The Queen travelled to Edinburgh with two attendants and a private secretary.
subject is a high-status individual
Mr Esme hired an attendant to help his mother bathe and dress each morning.
attendant + to-infinitive of care task
After the stroke, Grandpa Wei needed a full-time attendant at home.
The ambassador's attendant carried his briefcase up the embassy steps.
文法句型
attendant to/for [person]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: here the attendant follows ONE specific person rather than serving the public at a fixed location. Often pairs with 'personal' or a possessive ('her attendant', 'the king's attendants').
常見錯誤
3. during a marriage ceremony, a friend or relative chosen to stand beside the brid
during a marriage ceremony, a friend or relative chosen to stand beside the bride or groom and support them — typically as a bridesmaid, groomsman, or flower girl.
Dimitri asked her three sisters and a college friend to be her attendants at the wedding.
usually plural; possessive subject
The groom's attendants wore matching navy suits and silver ties.
the [bride/groom]'s attendants
Each attendant carried a small bouquet of white roses down the aisle.
Diego's youngest niece served as a flower attendant, scattering petals before the bride.
- bridesmaid
specifically a female attendant of the bride
- groomsman
specifically a male attendant of the groom
文法句型
attendant at a wedding
用法筆記
More common in American English than British English. Often appears in plural ('her attendants') because brides and grooms typically have several. Can be replaced by the more specific 'bridesmaid' or 'groomsman'.
常見錯誤
attendant — adjective
1. occurring alongside a particular situation or arising as a side effect of it, es
occurring alongside a particular situation or arising as a side effect of it, especially when describing problems, risks, or costs that come bundled with the main thing.
Buying an old farmhouse brings romance and the attendant headaches of leaking roofs and damp walls.
attendant + plural noun (headaches, risks, problems)
The mayor warned residents about the floods and their attendant health risks.
possessive + attendant + noun
Ines enjoyed her promotion despite the attendant stress of longer hours.
Cycling through Taipei traffic carries obvious dangers attendant on rush-hour congestion.
- accompanying
neutral; works for positive or negative side effects
- concomitant
very formal; near-synonym in academic writing
- consequent
stresses cause-and-effect more than co-occurrence
- unrelated
things that don't come bundled together
文法句型
attendant + noun
attendant on/upon [noun]
用法筆記
Used attributively before nouns naming negative consequences (problems, risks, costs, dangers, difficulties). Rarely modifies pleasant outcomes. Formal in tone — common in journalism and academic writing, rare in casual speech.
常見錯誤
2. physically there at a place or event, often in order to give help, attention, or
physically there at a place or event, often in order to give help, attention, or company to someone else.
Three doctors were attendant at the prince's bedside throughout the night.
attendant at [place]
Two nurses remained attendant on the patient until the fever broke.
attendant on [person]
Reporters and attendant photographers crowded the courtroom steps.
The president arrived with a small group of attendant aides and bodyguards.
- accompanying
more neutral and current
- present
everyday register; less formal
- absent
not physically there
文法句型
attendant at [event]
attendant on [person]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: here 'attendant' describes people physically present, not abstract consequences. Predicative use ('be attendant on') is literary or formal; the attributive use ('attendant aides') is more current.