1notice taken of someone or something; the regarding of someone or something as interesting or important:he drew attention to three spelling mistakes
the mental faculty of considering or taking notice of someone or something:he turned his attention to the educational system
2the action of dealing with or taking special care of someone or something:her business needed her attentionhe was found guilty of failing to give a patient adequate medical attention
(attentions) things done to express interest in or please someone:she felt flattered by his attentions
3 Military a position assumed by a soldier, standing very straight with the feet together and the arms straight down the sides of the body:Saunders stood stolidly to attention
[as exclamation] an order to assume a straight standing position.
pay attention
take notice of someone or something:students used to know how to pay attention, even when the lecture was boringif you pay attention to one thing, you have to ignore something elseyou’ve never paid that much attention to her opinions