tend to — to be likely to do something or to happen in a particular way, especially because this is often the case
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to be likely to do something or to happen in a particular way, especially because this is often the case
Pronunciation (IPA): /tɛnd tuː/
Example Sentences
- My dad tends to fall asleep during every single movie we watch together.
- Students tend to study harder right before exams than during the semester.
- My cat tends to knock things off the table just to watch me react.
tend to
VERB[/tɛnd tuː/]
to be likely to do something or to happen in a particular way, especially because this is often the case
People tend to check their phones the moment they wake up.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The verb 'tend' derives from Latin 'tendere', meaning 'to stretch' or 'to direct toward'. The image of stretching or extending in a particular direction evolved semantically to express inclination or propensity. When combined with the directional preposition 'to', it forms the phrasal verb 'tend to', expressing a habitual inclination or likelihood toward a particular direction or behavior.
Breakdown
tend (from Latin tendere: to stretch, to direct) + to (preposition indicating direction) = to have a tendency or inclination toward; to be inclined in a particular direction.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My dad tends to fall asleep during every single movie we watch together.”
“Students tend to study harder right before exams than during the semester.”
“My cat tends to knock things off the table just to watch me react.”
“Prices tend to rise during the holiday season.”
📚Related Words
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