Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense attracts, present participle attracting, past tense, past participle attracted
1. verb
If something attracts people or animals, it has features that cause them to come to it.
The Cardiff Bay project is attracting many visitors. [VERB noun]
Warm weather has attracted the flat fish close to shore. [VERB noun adverb/preposition]
Summer attracts visitors to the countryside. [VERB noun adverb/preposition]
Synonyms: allure, interest, draw, invite More Synonyms of attract
2. verb
If someone or something attracts you, they have particular qualities which cause you to like or admire them. If a particular quality attracts you to a person or thing, it is the reason why you like them.
He wasn't sure he'd got it right, although the theory attracted him by its logic. [VERB noun]
What first attracted me to her was her incredible experience of life. [VERB noun to noun]
More people would be attracted to cycling if conditions were right. [beVERB-ed + to]
3. verb
If you are attractedto someone, you are interested in them sexually.
In spite of her hostility, she was attracted to him. [beVERB-ed + to]
I was married to a man who had ceased to attract me. [VERB noun]
attractedadjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]
He was nice looking, but I wasn't deeply attracted to him. [+ to]
4. verb
If something attracts support, publicity, or money, it receives support, publicity, or money.
President Mwinyi said his country would also like to attract investment from privatecompanies. [VERB noun]
Opinion polls suggest that the two rebels have attracted a lot of sympathy. [VERB noun]
5. verb
If one object attracts another object, it causes the second object to move towards it.
Anything with strong gravity attracts other things to it. [VERB noun + to]
[Also VERB noun]
Synonyms: pull [informal], draw, magnetize More Synonyms of attract
6. to attract someone's attention
attract in British English
(əˈtrækt)
verb(mainly tr)
1.
to draw (notice, a crowd of observers, etc) to oneself by conspicuous behaviour or appearance (esp in the phrase attract attention)
2. (also intr)
to exert a force on (a body) that tends to cause an approach or oppose a separation
the gravitational pull of the earth attracts objects to it
3.
to possess some property that pulls or draws (something) towards itself
jam attracts wasps
4. (also intr)
to exert a pleasing, alluring, or fascinating influence (upon); be attractive (to)
Derived forms
attractable (atˈtractable)
adjective
attractor (atˈtractor) or attracter (atˈtracter)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Latin attrahere to draw towards, from trahere to pull
attract in American English
(əˈtrækt)
verb transitive
1.
to draw to itself or oneself; make approach or adhere
magnets attract iron
2.
to get the admiration, attention, etc. of; allure
his smile attracted her
verb intransitive
3.
to be attractive
SYNONYMY NOTE: attract implies the exertion of a force such as magnetism to draw a person or thing and connotessusceptibility in the thing drawn; , allure implies attraction by that which seductively offers pleasure, delight, reward, etc.;, charm suggests the literal or figurative casting of a spell and implies very pleasing qualitiesin the agent; , fascinate, enchant both also suggest a magical power, , fascinate stressing irresistibility and , enchant the evoking of great delight; , captivate implies a capturing of the attention or affection, but suggests a light, passinginfluence
OPPOSITE: repel
Derived forms
attractable (atˈtractable)
adjective
attracter (atˈtracter)
noun or atˈtractor
Word origin
ME attracten < L attractus, pp. of attrahere, to draw to < ad-, to + trahere, draw
Examples of 'attract' in a sentence
attract
Mrs Blair went so far as to pass Canon Hurley a pepper-mill when he couldn't immediately attract the attention of a waiter.
Penn, John UNTO THE GRAVE (2003)
The classic warning shot over the bows to attract our attention.
Maclean, Alistair SAN ANDREAS (2003)
He was beginning to attract the attention of others in the locker room.
Dobbs, Michael THE TOUCH OF INNOCENTS (2003)
I don't think a regular submarine movement along the Arctic waters north of Russia, heading east, would even attract anyone's attention.
Patrick Robinson BARRACUDA 945 (2003)
In other languages
attract
British English: attract /əˈtrækt/ VERB
If something attracts people or animals, it has features that cause them to come to it.
Summer attracts visitors to the countryside.
American English: attract
Arabic: يَجْذِب
Brazilian Portuguese: atrair
Chinese: 吸引
Croatian: privući
Czech: přitáhnout
Danish: tiltrække
Dutch: aantrekken bekoren
European Spanish: atraer
Finnish: viehättää
French: attirer
German: anlocken
Greek: προσελκύω
Italian: attrarre
Japanese: ひきつける
Korean: 끌어당기다
Norwegian: tiltrekke
Polish: przyciągnąć
European Portuguese: atrair
Romanian: a atrage
Russian: привлекать
Latin American Spanish: atraer
Swedish: attrahera
Thai: ดึงดูดความสนใจ
Turkish: çekmek
Ukrainian: приваблювати
Vietnamese: lôi cuốn
British English: attract VERB
If someone or something attracts you, they have particular qualities which cause you to like or admire them.
He wasn't sure he'd got it right, although the theory attracted him by its logic.
American English: attract
Brazilian Portuguese: atrair
Chinese: 吸引
European Spanish: atraer
French: attirer
German: anziehen
Italian: attirare
Japanese: 引きつける
Korean: 끌다
European Portuguese: atrair
Latin American Spanish: atraer
Chinese translation of 'attract'
attract
(əˈtrækt)
vt
[people, animals, metal]吸引 (xīyǐn)
(= gain)
[support, publicity]获(獲)得 (huòdé)
[sb's interest, attention]引起 (yǐnqǐ)
1 (verb)
Definition
to arouse the interest or admiration of
Summer attracts visitors to the countryside.
Synonyms
allure
The dog was allured by the smell of roasting meat.
interest
This part of the book interests me in particular.
draw
invite
Their refusal to compromise will invite more criticism from the UN.
persuade
My husband persuaded me to come.
engage
He engaged us with tales of his adventures.
charm
My sister charms everyone she meets.
appeal to
fascinate
She fascinated us, on and off stage.
win over
tempt
Don't let credit tempt you to buy something you can't afford.
lure (informal)
They did not realise that they were being lured into a trap.
induce
I would do anything to induce them to stay.
incline
seduce
The view of the lake and plunging cliffs seduces visitors.
entice
Retailers will try almost anything to entice shoppers through their doors.
enchant
This book will enchant readers.
endear
Her behaviour did not endear her to her colleagues.
lead on
coax
After lunch she coaxed him into talking about himself.
captivate
I was captivated by her sparkling personality.
beguile
Her paintings beguiled the critics.
cajole
It was he who cajoled the actor into making the film.
bewitch
She was not moving, as if someone had bewitched her.
decoy
They used flares to decoy enemy missiles.
inveigle
pull
catch (someone's) eye
Opposites
disgust
,
revolt
,
repel
,
repulse
,
put you off
,
turn you off (informal)
,
give you the creeps (informal)
2 (verb)
Definition
(of a magnet) to draw (something) closer by exerting a force on it
Anything with strong gravity attracts other things to it.
Synonyms
pull (informal)
The organizers have to employ performers to pull a crowd.
draw
The game is currently drawing huge crowds
magnetize
Additional synonyms
in the sense of beguile
Her paintings beguiled the critics.
Synonyms
charm,
please,
attract,
delight,
occupy,
cheer,
fascinate,
entertain,
absorb,
entrance,
win over,
amuse,
divert,
distract,
enchant,
captivate,
solace,
allure,
bewitch,
mesmerize,
engross,
enrapture,
tickle the fancy of
in the sense of bewitch
Definition
to attract and fascinate
She was not moving, as if someone had bewitched her.
Synonyms
enchant,
attract,
charm,
fascinate,
absorb,
entrance,
enthral,
captivate,
beguile,
allure,
ravish,
mesmerize,
hypnotize,
cast a spell on,
enrapture,
spellbind
in the sense of cajole
Definition
to persuade by flattery
It was he who cajoled the actor into making the film.