attend an event

Meaning

This expression means to go to a pre-arranged gathering, such as a concert, festival, movie premiere, or sports match. It is slightly more formal than 'go to a show,' but is widely used in both everyday and professional contexts. It focuses on being physically present at a specific occasion.

Examples

• Thousands of music lovers gather every summer to attend this outdoor event.

  Thousands of music lovers gather every summer to attend this outdoor event.

• Are you planning to attend the charity event hosted by the local theater group?

  Are you planning to attend the charity event hosted by the local theater group?

• Members of the press were invited to attend an exclusive screening event last night.

  Members of the press were invited to attend an exclusive screening event last night.

• It is a great opportunity to network with other artists when you attend an event like this.

  It is a great opportunity to network with other artists when you attend an event like this.

• Because of the storm, many fans were unable to attend the sporting event.

  Because of the storm, many fans were unable to attend the sporting event.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I am going to assist to an event tonight.

  ✓ I am going to attend an event tonight.

  'Assist' means to help. To go to or be present at a gathering, you must use 'attend' (a common false friend for Romance language speakers).

• ✗ She attended at a gaming event last weekend.

  ✓ She attended a gaming event last weekend.

  'Attend' is a transitive verb and does not require the preposition 'at'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• We bought tickets online because we wanted to ___ during the film festival.

  💡 Go to a public gathering or show.

  Show answer

  attend an event

• Celebrities from all over the world arrived in Paris to ___ during fashion week.

  💡 Be present at a gathering.

  Show answer

  attend an event