attention
attention — noun
1. the curiosity or thought that many people give to a subject, event, or person, o
the curiosity or thought that many people give to a subject, event, or person, often through news coverage or word of mouth.
The young pianist's recital drew nationwide attention after a video went viral.
draw attention — public interest
Mayor Lopez wants more attention on the city's housing shortage.
attention on [issue]
The new bakery on Chestnut Street is getting plenty of attention from food bloggers.
Climate protests in Berlin have brought fresh attention to fossil fuel policy.
Viraj enjoys her quiet life and avoids any kind of public attention.
- obscurity
state of being unknown or ignored
文法句型
attention to/towards [topic]
attract/get attention
用法筆記
Subject is usually a topic, event, or public figure rather than a single private listener; distinguish from sense 3 (one person's focused mental effort).
常見錯誤
2. the act of doing something so that another person sees you, hears you, or starts
the act of doing something so that another person sees you, hears you, or starts watching what you are doing.
Esme waved his menu to attract the waiter's attention.
attract someone's attention
A bright red dress caught the photographer's attention from across the hall.
catch someone's attention
The little boy tapped his mother's arm to get her attention.
Aiko whistled loudly to grab her dog's attention in the park.
文法句型
attract someone's attention
catch someone's attention
用法筆記
Almost always appears with a possessive (someone's attention) and a verb of getting/attracting/catching/grabbing. Distinguish from sense 1: here a single addressee is being signalled, not the public at large.
常見錯誤
3. the mental effort of watching, listening, or thinking about one thing without le
the mental effort of watching, listening, or thinking about one thing without letting your mind wander.
Pay attention to the road, Uri — that truck is changing lanes.
pay attention to [object]
After lunch, the children's attention started to drift.
attention drifts/wanders
Dr. Xiomara asked the class to turn their attention to page forty-two.
Solving this puzzle takes patience and full attention.
The loud drilling outside made it hard to keep my attention on the book.
- concentration
longer, more sustained mental effort
- focus
narrower target, often visual or strategic
- heed
formal: paying serious attention to a warning
- distraction
the mind being pulled away from the task
- inattention
lack of focus, often blamed for mistakes
文法句型
pay attention to [something]
focus/concentrate one's attention on
用法筆記
This is the core 'concentration' sense and combines most freely with verbs like pay, focus, hold, lose. Distinguish from sense 1 (group interest) — here the agent is a single mind directed at a single object.
常見錯誤
4. the person or thing that almost everyone in a place is looking at or talking abo
the person or thing that almost everyone in a place is looking at or talking about — for example, the bride at a wedding or a winning goal in a match.
In her glittering dress, Priya was the centre of attention at the gala.
be the centre of attention
The new puppy quickly became the focus of attention at the family picnic.
become the focus of attention
Once the cake was carried in, it was the object of attention for every child in the room.
Marco hates parties because he never wants to be the centre of attention.
- spotlight
metaphor: in/under the spotlight
- focal point
more neutral, often visual
- wallflower
informal: someone deliberately on the edge of a social scene
文法句型
the centre of attention
the focus/object of attention
用法筆記
Almost always preceded by 'the' and a noun like centre, focus, object — rarely standalone. The British spelling is 'centre'; American is 'center'.
常見錯誤
5. polite or affectionate behaviour shown to someone you are attracted to — gifts,
polite or affectionate behaviour shown to someone you are attracted to — gifts, compliments, visits — and sometimes the unwelcome version of the same.
Elena was flattered by the young officer's attentions during the summer ball.
plural 'attentions' for courtship
She quietly complained to HR about a colleague's unwanted attentions.
unwanted attentions — negative use
Mr. Bennett showered the heiress with attentions she clearly did not return.
Daisuke finally gave up his attentions when Yumi began dating someone else.
- indifference
showing no romantic interest at all
文法句型
someone's attentions
unwanted attentions from [person]
用法筆記
Almost always plural in this sense; the singular 'attention' rarely carries the courtship meaning on its own. Often paired with 'unwanted' or 'unwelcome' to describe harassment-adjacent behaviour.
常見錯誤
6. the moment when a person stops working on one matter and begins to think serious
the moment when a person stops working on one matter and begins to think seriously about another — used mainly in the fixed phrase 'turn one's attention to'.
After finishing the budget, the committee turned its attention to next year's hiring plan.
turn attention to [next topic]
Once the children were asleep, Hannah turned her attention to the dishes.
turn attention to [pending task]
The detective turned his attention to a witness who had been silent until then.
Let us now turn our attention to the second chapter of the report.
- shift focus
less formal, same idea of switching topics
- move on to
everyday phrasing for the same transition
文法句型
turn one's attention to [topic]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 3: sense 3 is about sustained focus, while this one names the transition between topics. Almost always with the verb 'turn' and the preposition 'to'.
常見錯誤
7. a polite phrase used by a speaker at the start of an announcement to request tha
a polite phrase used by a speaker at the start of an announcement to request that everyone present stop talking and listen.
May I have your attention, please? The 8:15 train to Hsinchu has been delayed.
fixed phrase: May I have your attention, please?
Mr. Lin tapped his glass and said, "Could I have your attention for a moment?"
variant: Could I have your attention?
Attention, all passengers: gate 12 has changed to gate 18.
The flight crew asked for our attention while the safety video began to play.
Attention, shoppers: the store will close in ten minutes.
- Listen up
informal spoken equivalent; used by teachers, coaches, sergeants
- May I have a moment?
softer, used in meetings rather than to a crowd
文法句型
May I have your attention, please?
用法筆記
Almost always the fixed phrase 'May/Could I have your attention?' or the opener 'Attention, [group]:' before a public announcement. Distinguish from sense 1 (general notice or interest), which is not a request and takes no audience.
常見錯誤
8. the practical work of looking after someone or something — for example, treating
the practical work of looking after someone or something — for example, treating a wound, fixing a fault, or dealing with a problem that needs to be solved.
The cut on Nadia's hand was deep and needed medical attention straight away.
collocation: need + medical attention
The old wooden roof has not had any attention for nearly twenty years.
pattern: have + attention (passive sense)
Uri gave the engine a few hours of careful attention before the long drive.
Several elderly patients on the ward require constant attention from the nurses.
The leaking pipe in the kitchen is in urgent need of attention.
- care
broader; covers emotional support too, not only repair or treatment
- treatment
narrower; mainly medical or chemical processes
- maintenance
for machines or buildings, planned and routine
- neglect
the failure to give needed care
文法句型
need attention
require medical attention
in need of attention
用法筆記
Subject is usually a thing or body part that has gone wrong (a wound, a roof, an engine, a patient). Often appears with adjectives like 'medical', 'urgent', 'professional', 'expert'. Distinguish from sense 1 (mental notice): here the focus is on hands-on action, not just thinking.
常見錯誤
9. a stiff, upright way of standing used by soldiers, with heels touching, body str
a stiff, upright way of standing used by soldiers, with heels touching, body straight, arms held flat against the legs, and the gaze fixed forward.
The cadets snapped to attention the moment Sergeant Diaz walked into the hall.
collocation: snap to attention
Eight young soldiers stood to attention beside the flag throughout the ceremony.
collocation: stand to attention
When the general appeared, every officer in the courtyard came to attention.
The honour guard held attention for nearly an hour under the hot sun.
Recruits learn to move from at-ease to attention in a single sharp motion.
- at attention
American English variant of the same posture
- at ease
the relaxed standing position soldiers move into when 'attention' is dismissed
- stand down
command releasing soldiers from attention
文法句型
stand to attention
come to attention
snap to attention
用法筆記
Almost always inside a fixed verb phrase: 'stand/come/snap to attention'. The bare noun rarely appears alone. Domain is military, ceremonial, or scouts. Distinguish from sense 1 by context: a parade ground, uniforms, or a senior officer.
常見錯誤
attention — exclamation
1. a shouted order in the army, navy, or other armed services telling soldiers to s
a shouted order in the army, navy, or other armed services telling soldiers to stand up straight, with their feet together, arms pressed against the sides, and eyes facing forward.
Sergeant Lopez barked "Attention!" and the new recruits froze in straight lines.
shouted military command directed at troops
When the general walked onto the parade ground, an officer shouted "Attention!"
called out when a senior officer arrives
"Attention!" the captain shouted, and every cadet snapped upright at once.
At sunrise the drill instructor yelled "Attention!" and the platoon stiffened on the gravel.
- ten-hut
informal American military shout, same meaning
- at ease
the opposite command, allowing soldiers to relax their posture
用法筆記
Almost always shouted by a commanding officer; the order causes troops to adopt the formal upright pose. Distinguish from sense 2, which addresses ordinary civilians.
常見錯誤
2. a word called out at the start of a public message to ask everyone in a place to
a word called out at the start of a public message to ask everyone in a place to stop talking and listen, because what follows is important news or information.
"Attention, please! The 9:15 train to Taipei has been delayed by twenty minutes."
typical opener: 'Attention, please!' before public announcements
Over the supermarket speakers came: "Attention, shoppers — checkout four is now open."
addressed to a specific group: 'Attention, [audience]'
"Attention, passengers: please keep your bags with you at all times."
The flight attendant tapped the microphone and said, "Attention, everyone, the seatbelt sign is on."
"Attention, students! The afternoon assembly will start in the main hall at two o'clock."
- listen up
more informal, often used among friends or colleagues, not in official announcements
- may I have your attention
fuller, more polite version used in formal speeches and announcements
用法筆記
Most often appears as 'Attention, please!' or 'Attention, [group]!' over loudspeakers, intercoms, or public-address systems. Unlike sense 1, this is not a military order and is used in civilian settings such as airports, stations, schools, and shops.