How do you pronounce attentive?

The recorded pronunciation is /əˈtɛntɪv/.

Where does attentive come from?

It is traced to Middle English.

attentive

/əˈtɛntɪv/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.30 in modern English

Syllables: at-ten-tive
IPA: /əˈtɛntɪv/

Scrabble Score

Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Paying attention; noticing, watching, listening, or attending closely.

adj

Courteous; mindful.

Example Sentences

"She is an attentive listener, but does not like to talk much."
"King-of-the-Sky was sitting alone in the Leeward Village meeting-house, gesticulating to the attentive shades of night, roaring out the genealogy of his ancestors, telling the sleeping world of his greatness."
"a husband attentive to his wife’s needs"

Etymology

From Middle English attentif, attentijf, from Old French attentif.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: attentif

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /əˈtɛntɪv/
British English: /əˈtɛntɪv/

Inflected Forms

more attentive (comparative) most attentive (superlative)

Derived Forms

attentively attentiveness attentivity hyperattentive nonattentive overattentive polyattentive preattentive reattentive unattentive

Phrases

attentive public

Frequently Paired Words

alert wary watchful

Synonyms

audient heedful mindful reckful thoughtful paying attention

Antonyms

inattentive reckless

Rhymes With

incentive preventive inventive inattentive disincentive