pay attention

en
en
Change language
Translating...
Find language
العربية الفصحى
Arabic (Standard)
Deutsch
German
Español
Spanish
Français
French
हिन्दी
Hindi
/ˌpeɪ əˈtɛnʃən/
Add to My Dictionary
In My Dictionary
+1
To focus the mind on something.
Practice using pay attention in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • He did not pay attention, so he missed the announcement.
  • Please pay attention to the safety instructions.
  • Drivers must pay attention at this crossing.
  • Are you paying attention to what I am saying?
  • She paid attention when the teacher explained the rule.

Similar words

concentrate
listen carefully
take notice

Meanings

Focus carefully

learning
neutral
To listen, watch, or think carefully enough to understand or notice what matters.

Examples

  • Please pay attention to the safety instructions.
  • She paid attention when the teacher explained the rule.
  • Are you paying attention to what I am saying?
  • Drivers must pay attention at this crossing.
  • He did not pay attention, so he missed the announcement.

Similar words

concentrate
listen carefully
take notice

Etymology

Pay can mean give, and attention is focused notice. Together the words describe giving someone or something mental focus.

FAQ

What does pay attention mean?

It means to focus your mind on someone or something.

When is pay attention used?

It is used when listening, watching, or thinking carefully is important.

How is pay attention different from notice?

Notice can be a brief moment of awareness. Pay attention asks for deliberate, sustained focus.

How is pay attention used in a sentence?

It is commonly followed by to, as in “pay attention to the instructions”.

Is pay attention formal?

It is neutral, though an imperative can sound firm.

Comments & contributions

Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
Posting as a guest · Sign in
No comments yet. Be the first to add one.
Look up word or phrase...