tends

Jump To:

be apt, likely v.
care for v.

VERB

be apt, likely

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bear contribute favor go gravitate influence lean turn

STRONG

aim bend conduce dispose drift head impel incline lead look move point redound trend

WEAK

be biased be conducive be disposed be in the habit of be inclined be liable be predisposed be prejudiced have a tendency have an inclination make for move toward result in serve to verge on

Antonyms

STRONGEST

dislike hurt shun take

STRONG

dissuade follow obey

WEAK

abandon ignore neglect

VERB

care for

Synonyms

STRONGEST

cultivate do feed keep look after maintain manage protect take care of watch

STRONG

accomplish administer attend baby-sit cherish control corral defend direct foster guard handle mind nurse nurture oversee perform safeguard serve shepherd shield sit superintend supervise

WEAK

cater to do for keep an eye on keep tabs on minister to ride herd on see after see to take under wing wait on watch out for watch over

Antonyms

STRONGEST

destroy fail harm hurt ignore neglect

STRONG

abandon deny disregard endanger forget forsake give up mismanage refuse relinquish renounce resign

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

tends

"I think there's only so much stress they can withstand," said the gardener, who tends 1,800 trees.

From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026

Preparing to set out on a long car journey, naivety tends to get the best of us.

From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2026

Focaccia has become de facto sandwich bread or makeshift pizza crust elsewhere in Italy, but it tends to be bare bones in Genoa, where it has been made since the Middle Ages.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

The platform tends to push content that generates more engagement, such as longer watch times, replays, shares and comments.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

Julie always wants the spotlight and tends to sing extremely loudly.

From "Amina's Voice" by Hena Khan