attention

The act of looking, listening, or thinking carefully about someone or something.

• Please pay attention.
• The noise caught my attention.
• He gave the teacher his full attention.

How to use it: pay attention to someone/something (Please pay attention to the instructions.); draw/attract someone’s attention to something (She drew my attention to a small mistake.)

Similar words: focus, concentration

Opposites: inattention

Common phrases: pay attention, attention to something, attract attention

A straight standing position with feet together and arms at the sides, used by soldiers.

• The guard stood at attention.
• The soldiers came to attention at the command.
• She remained at attention until the officer had passed.

How to use it: stand at attention (The soldiers stood at attention.); come to attention (The guards came to attention when the officer arrived.)

Common phrases: stand at attention, come to attention, at attention