attention span

noun

: the length of time during which one (such as an individual or a group) is able to concentrate or remain interested

Examples of attention span in a Sentence

people with short attention spans
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As technology cycles accelerate and attention spans shorten, the companies that endure will be those that balance evolution with principle. Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025 Episodes will now be built around one 11-minute story, reflecting the shorter attention spans of younger viewers. Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025 Kids and teens also have shorter attention spans than adults and are more easily distracted, whereas adults are generally better at filtering out distractions. Jonathan B. Santo, The Conversation, 12 May 2025 That’s perfectly doable, because their brains are more plastic—able to easily change and adapt—than those of older folks, and their attention spans tend to be more robust, Tan says. Angela Haupt, Time, 25 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for attention span

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of attention span was in 1903

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Attention span.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attention%20span. Accessed 31 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

attention span

noun
: the length of time during which one is able to concentrate or remain interested
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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