allure
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
has alluredperfect 3rd person singular
-
have alluredperfect
-
has been alluringperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
are alluringprogressive
-
am alluringprogressive 1st person singular
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alluressingular 3rd person
-
is alluringprogressive 3rd person singular
-
have been alluringperfect progressive
-
alluringparticiple
Past
-
had alluredperfect
-
were alluringprogressive plural
-
was alluringprogressive singular
-
alluredsimple
-
alluredparticiple
-
had been alluringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of allure
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English aluren, from Middle French alurer, from a- a- 5 + lurer “to lure”; see lure
Explanation
Something that has allure is powerfully attractive and tempting. A career in Hollywood might have great allure to a teenager who loves acting. You've probably noticed that allure contains lure, from the German word luder meaning "bait." A well-made lure is so alluring to a fish that it won't notice the hook. First used in the 15th century, this word has even landed its own fashion magazine — Allure, which tries to tempt people to buy it by putting powerfully attractive people on the cover and hoping you'll believe that if you buy it, you'll have some allure as well.
Vocabulary lists containing allure
Vocabulary: A Rapper's Delight!
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Vocabulary from texts about Colin Powell
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This Week in Pop Culture : March 9 - 15, 2019
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
There also is the allure of Musk himself.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026
The shiny trappings are just part of the allure of the 58-year-old venue.
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
The allure of this assignment, in her home city, is undeniable.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026
Treasury yields, which typically diminish the allure of the nonyielding asset.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026
Being a little older than my classmates adds to my allure; they look up to me, admire me even.
From "The Queen of Water" by Laura Resau
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
