Language Research

attention · noun U

/əˈten.tʃən/Full view

Word family

Nouns: attention

Adjectives: attentive, inattentive

Adverbs: attentively

attention

B1 when you watch, listen to, or think about something carefully or with interest

Dictionary examples:

Ladies and gentlemen, could I have your attention, please?

Wait a moment and I'll give you my full attention.

After an hour, my attention started to wander.

Learner example:

Thank you for your attention. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Thai)

attract/get (sb's) attention

B2 to make someone notice you

Dictionary example:

I waved at her to get her attention.

Learner example:

The bank is near the school, so the lady was trying to get people's attention while the others [robbed] the bank. (First Certificate in English; B2; Portuguese)

draw (sb's) attention to sth/sb

B2 to make someone notice something or someone

Dictionary examples:

If I could just draw your attention to the second paragraph.

She's always drawing attention to herself.

Learner example:

The purpose of his report is to draw attention to videos in English. (First Certificate in English; B2; Polish)

pay attention (to sth)

B1 to watch, listen to, or think about something carefully

Dictionary example:

You weren't paying attention to what I was saying.

Learner example:

Larry is a very distracted boy. Everybody says that he should pay attention to what he is doing. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

be the center of attention

C2 to receive more attention than anyone or anything else

Dictionary example:

He loves to be the center of attention.

Learner example:

He would have so much fun being the center of attention. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; French)