in attendance

in attendance — idiom

1. used for saying that someone is at a particular place, especially a formal meeti

1.慣用語B1
釋義

used for saying that someone is at a particular place, especially a formal meeting, ceremony, or social event that people have gathered for.

例句

Over three hundred guests were in attendance at the award ceremony at the National Theater.

in attendance at [event] — formal gathering

The principal confirmed that all teachers would be in attendance at the parent-teacher meeting.

同義詞
  • present

    simpler, less formal; 'present at' works in the same contexts as 'in attendance at'.

  • there

    very informal and vague; 'everyone was there' instead of 'everyone was in attendance'.

反義詞
  • absent

    direct opposite — 'absent from' contrasts with 'in attendance at'.

用法筆記

This sense is the most common one. It is typically used in formal or semi-formal contexts — reports, announcements, news articles — to list or describe the people present at an occasion.

常見錯誤

❌The teacher was in attendance of the class.
✅The teacher was in attendance at the class.
💡the correct preposition is 'at', not 'of'.
❌He was in attendance for the party.
✅He was in attendance at the party.
💡use 'at', not 'for', when referring to an event.

2. being with a person to give them medical help, support, or personal care during

2.慣用語B1
釋義

being with a person to give them medical help, support, or personal care during a difficult time, such as childbirth, an operation, or a hospital stay.

例句

Dr. Okonkwo was in attendance when Bilal's wife gave birth at the city hospital.

in attendance when [event] — medical/childbirth context

A team of three nurses remained in attendance throughout the eight-hour surgery.

同義詞
  • present

    simpler but loses the active-care nuance; 'present at the birth' could mean just being in the room.

  • on hand

    informal; 'a nurse was on hand' suggests readiness to help, like 'in attendance'.

  • assisting

    more active and specific; 'assisting at the delivery' is clearer about the role.

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 (PRESENT AT EVENT): this sense requires a person who is actively helping, treating, or supporting someone else. The context is usually medical — childbirth, surgery, or hospital care. The subject is typically a doctor, nurse, or midwife.

常見錯誤

❌The doctor was in attendance of the patient.
✅The doctor was in attendance on the patient.' or 'The doctor was in attendance at the birth.
💡use 'on' for the person receiving care, or 'at' for the event.