attraction

[uh-trak-shuhn]

noun

1. the act, power, or property of attracting.

2. attractive quality; magnetic charm; fascination; allurement; enticement.

   the subtle attraction of her strange personality.

   Synonyms: lure, appeal

3. a person or thing that draws, attracts, allures, or entices.

   The main attraction was the after-dinner speaker.

4. a characteristic or quality that provides pleasure; attractive feature.

   The chief attractions of the evening were the good drinks and witty conversation.

5. Physics.,  the electric or magnetic force that acts between oppositely charged bodies, tending to draw them together.

6. an entertainment offered to the public.

   Synonyms: spectacle, show

attraction

/ əˈtrækʃən /

noun

1. the act, power, or quality of attracting

2. a person or thing that attracts or is intended to attract

3. a force by which one object attracts another, such as the gravitational or electrostatic force

4. a change in the form of one linguistic element caused by the proximity of another element

Other Word Forms

• attractionally adverb
• reattraction noun
• superattraction noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of attraction¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English attraccioun, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin attractiōn-, stem of attractiō; equivalent to attract + -ion

Example Sentences

We stopped by a burger stand where his friend, Allen, happened to work, and as he introduced us, I felt an irrevocable attraction.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The council said other developments were also taking place, including the modernisation of attractions like the Rhyl Pavilion Theatre and hundreds of new affordable homes.

Read more on BBC

Like "6-7", fans say its attraction lies in the fact that it can mean anything at all -- and has become a symbol of the "brain rot" content being consumed on social media.

Read more on Barron's

Marineland, like other similar parks, suffered falling revenues over broadening global resistance to attractions where captive mammals are trained to perform.

Read more on Barron's

In between the tribute bands and memorabilia vendors, one of the big attractions was screenings of various rare or bootleg film footage, screened in cavernous hotel ballrooms.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• allure 
• appeal 
• attractiveness 
• interest