attract
B1Neutral (used across formal, informal, and academic contexts)
Definition
Meaning
To cause someone or something to come closer or show interest.
To draw attention, admiration, or support; to have a quality that appeals to others.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a positive or desirable quality that draws something/someone in. Can be used literally (physical force) or figuratively (attention, interest).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and grammar are identical.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both British and American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] attracts [NP][NP] is attracted to [NP][NP] attract [NP] to [NP]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Like a moth to a flame (attracted to something dangerous)”
- “Money attracts money”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to discuss drawing customers, investment, or talent (e.g., 'The new policy aims to attract foreign investors.').
Academic
Common in physics (magnetism), biology (pollination), and social sciences (e.g., 'The theory attracted considerable debate.').
Everyday
Used for personal appeal, attention, or simple pulling force (e.g., 'Bright colours attract babies.').
Technical
In physics, describes magnetic or gravitational force. In marketing, describes consumer behaviour.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The new exhibition attracted huge queues.
- She's always attracted trouble.
- The company hopes to attract graduates with its pension scheme.
American English
- The sale attracted a lot of customers.
- He's attracted to people who are outgoing.
- The magnet attracted the metal filings.
adverb
British English
- The product is attractively packaged.
- The flat was attractively priced for the area.
- She smiled attractively.
American English
- The car is attractively designed.
- The house is attractively located near schools.
- He argued his case attractively.
adjective
British English
- The most attractive feature of the house is the garden.
- He found the offer financially attractive.
- She's a very attractive person.
American English
- The job has an attractive benefits package.
- It's not an attractive option right now.
- They made an attractive proposal.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Flowers attract bees.
- The shop window attracts children.
- I am attracted to happy people.
- The city attracts tourists from all over the world.
- The idea attracted a lot of criticism.
- He was attracted to her sense of humour.
- The policy is designed to attract skilled workers to the region.
- Her speech attracted widespread media coverage.
- Opposites attract, or so they say.
- The novel's ambiguous ending has attracted considerable scholarly attention.
- The startup struggled to attract venture capital in its early stages.
- Certain minerals are attracted to a magnetic field.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a TRACTor pulling something towards it. AT-TRACT = pulling AT something.
Conceptual Metaphor
INTEREST IS A MAGNETIC FORCE (e.g., 'She was drawn to the idea.').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'attract' for временно привлекать (use 'hire' or 'engage temporarily').
- Do not confuse with 'distract' (отвлекать).
- Remember the preposition 'to' (attracted to someone/something), not 'on' or 'for'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I attract on art.' Correct: 'I am attracted to art.'
- Incorrect: 'The festival attracted many people to come.' (redundant) Correct: 'The festival attracted many people.'
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'attract' INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can be used for negative things too (e.g., attract criticism, attract trouble). The key is the 'drawing' action, not the quality of what is drawn.
'Attract' focuses on the agent causing the pull ('The job attracts him'). 'Appeal to' focuses on the receiver's feeling ('The job appeals to him'). They are often interchangeable but with a slight shift in perspective.
Rarely. It is almost always a transitive verb requiring a direct object (attract *something*). The passive form 'be attracted' is very common.
Use 'to' for a general liking or pull ('attracted to art', 'attracted to her'). Use 'by' to specify the cause or quality ('attracted by the salary', 'attracted by her intelligence').