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attention

attention

169 6.6
A straight formal standing position that soldiers take during drill
  • noun
  • /əˈtɛnʃən/
  • Formal
translation icon : posición de firmes
  • Come to attention when l am addressing you!
  • stand at attention

And I took that free time and I walked straight up to my senior drill instructor, snapped to attention and said, senior drill instructors really like to speak to you, Sir.

Examples

  • Christopher Watkins stands at attention at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery. Photographer unknown.

    Academic text (2015)

  • The battalion commander called attention from the platform by the dining hall.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • The guards all turned at full attention to face the noise.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • "Soldier, are you at attention?" "No, sir," I shouted and looked down at the floor.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • So I stood at attention with the Air Force crew as the Army laid the casket in the middle of the aircraft.

  • The French soldiers in the crowd stood at their stiffest attention as the 369th passed.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • A sergeant enters, snaps to attention, says something to Beams, and exits.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • One of the guards ran up and halted, coming to attention and saluting smartly.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Reaching the top of the steps, Keane drew up before Ivor, snapped to attention, and saluted.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • All of the Coast Guard officials stood at attention on the dock during the review.

Antonyms

relaxation
54 1.6

A calm, stress-free state when you rest or enjoy free time

Compounds

media attention
  • Literature
37 2.4

Notice or interest from newspapers, TV, and websites

attention span
36 3.4

The time someone can focus on one thing without getting distracted

center of attention
  • Informal
29 3.2

A person or thing people notice most in a group

attention deficit disorder
  • Specialized
11 3.6

A condition that makes it hard to pay attention and sometimes makes people very active or act without thinking

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
  • Specialized
4 3.8

A condition often in children causing trouble paying attention, being very active and acting without thinking

attention-getting
3 4.1

Makes people notice it

attention whore
  • Offensive
2 9.9

A person who wants people to notice them too much

urgent attention
1 3.6

Immediate care or action needed because a problem is serious and may get worse

callout for attention
4.8

A short loud sound that gets people's attention

mucho attention
  • US
9.5

A lot of people notice someone or something

further medical attention
3.4

Extra medical care needed after first treatment

Surface Forms

attention singular
attentions plural

Morphology

attention = attend (semi-transparent) = attend + tion

While the connection to 'attend' is clear, the specific military stance meaning is not a standard grammatical derivation.

Etymology

Attention comes from Latin parts ad- 'to' and tendere 'to stretch', so it means 'stretching toward'. In the military this becomes very physical: to stand at attention is to 'stretch' your body straight and turn toward the officer, which is why the word names that formal posture.