Collocations for attention - noun

full, rapt, undivided
They listened with rapt attention.

assiduous, careful, close, meticulous, scrupulous | scant
Policy-makers paid scant attention to the wider issues.

urgent | special | unwanted, unwelcome | international, media, public

devote, direct, give (sb/sth), pay, turn
How many times do I have to ask you to pay attention? | He had a cup of tea and then turned his attention to the report.

get, have, receive
Can I have your attention, please? | These poems have received a lot of critical attention.

attract, call, capture, catch, command, compel, draw, excite, grab
I tried to attract the waiter''s attention. | Wherever he goes, he commands attention. | She doesn''t like to draw attention to her illness.

deflect, distract, divert, draw
The government is trying to divert attention away from the economy.

hold, keep, rivet
There was something in the way he spoke that riveted her attention.

concentrate, confine, focus
In this chapter we shall confine our attention to non-renewable energy sources.

refocus, transfer
The firm decided to refocus its attention back onto its traditional strengths and expertise.

deserve, need, require
a matter requiring urgent attention

jostle for, vie for
dozens of concerns jostling for your attention | She was surrounded by men all vying for her attention.

repay
an interesting essay that repays close attention

bring sth to
My boss was grateful that I had brought the matter to his attention.

come to | avoid, escape
Her primary aim was to avoid the attentions of the newspapers.

focus
Media attention focused today on the prince''s business affairs.

wander
I felt my attention wandering during the lecture.

span

for sb''s ~, for the ~ of
a letter for the attention of your doctor

attention to detail
He is a designer known for his meticulous attention to detail.

care and attention
He was convicted of driving without due care and attention.

the centre of attention
Some children love being the centre of attention.

the focus of attention
The focus of attention must now be how to improve the economy.

force your attentions on sb
A man like Luke had no need to force his attentions on unwilling women.

not pay much attention to sth, pay little/no attention to sth
(= not take something very seriously) Pay no attention to what Bill said - he''s a complete liar!

constant | individual, personal, special
The child needs special attention.

medical

devote, give, lavish
He devoted all his attention to his mother. | She lavishes attention on those silly little dogs.

be in need of, need, require, want
a patient requiring attention