attract
Americanverb (used with object)
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to draw by a physical force causing or tending to cause to approach, adhere, or unite; pull (opposed to repel).
The gravitational force of the earth attracts smaller bodies to it.
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to draw by appealing to the emotions or senses, by stimulating interest, or by exciting admiration; allure; invite.
to attract attention; to attract admirers by one's charm.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to draw (notice, a crowd of observers, etc) to oneself by conspicuous behaviour or appearance (esp in the phrase attract attention )
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(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
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to possess some property that pulls or draws (something) towards itself
jam attracts wasps
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(also intr) to exert a pleasing, alluring, or fascinating influence (upon); be attractive (to)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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attractablenessnoun
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attracternoun
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attractornoun
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reattractverb (used with object)
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attractableadjective
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unattractableadjective
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unattractedadjective
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unattractingadjective
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attractinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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attractsimple
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attractssimple
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have attractedperfect
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has attractedperfect
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am attractingprogressive
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are attractingprogressive
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is attractingprogressive
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have been attractingperfect progressive
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has been attractingperfect progressive
Past
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attractedsimple
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had attractedperfect
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was attractingprogressive
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were attractingprogressive
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had been attractingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of attract
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin attractus “drawn toward,” past participle of attrahere “to draw toward,” from at- at- + trahere “to draw, drag, pull”
Explanation
To attract is to exert a force that draws something in, like the way a magnet attracts a paper clip. You might know the phrase, "opposites attract." This means you might be drawn to a personality type that is completely unlike yours. With attract comes the sense that the pull you feel towards someone or something is not entirely voluntary. It's quite possible to say that you are attracted to someone, but you don't really like them. Low prices can attract buyers into a store they would not normally go into, and standing on a street corner screaming loudly will probably attract quite a bit of attention, but not the good kind.
Vocabulary lists containing attract
Electricity and Magnetism - Introductory
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"Return to Titanic" and "Talking with Robert Ballard"
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Force, Motion, and Energy
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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.
See Examples For:
Lower Middle Eastern prices for July and August cargoes could encourage refiners to return after Saudi Arabia and other Gulf producers cut official prices to attract buyers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
To attract the cautious consumers, analysts say, restaurants and retailers need to have lower prices or demonstrate a distinct brand identity that people will pay extra for.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
On TikTok and Instagram, hashtags such as #malefertility, #semenanalysis and #sperm attract hundreds of millions of views, while online communities dedicated to improving sperm health have grown rapidly.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
The invasive females attract native male mantises, which attempt to mate but are ultimately eaten, reducing local populations.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026
I wrench my mouth free and scream, but screams in Faerie are like birdsong, too common to attract much attention.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
It attracts carrion beetles and flesh flies, which lay their eggs on rotting animal carcasses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
So we get to witness the arguments, which unfortunately for the responsible parties—the “org” that attracts bile online and off—seem to portend the struggles to come.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
"When you have someone in your team like Lamine Yamal who attracts so much attention, you know you will get more space," said former Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
Either way, a shot at a better life still attracts people from around the world, from all ranges of wealth and education.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
Chandresh joins them at this point, followed closely by his assistant, Marco, a handsome young man with striking green eyes who quickly attracts the attention of both Burgess sisters.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
While most of Gibraltar's cross-border workers are Spanish, dozens of nationalities also make the regular journey, including some 1,600 Britons attracted by the lower cost of housing in Spain.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
The four systems attracted attention because their visible stars showed a pronounced radial wobble.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 15, 2026
Year in and year out, in incidents small and noticeably larger, refinery accidents enraged neighbors and attracted regulators.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
That helps explain why one patch of ocean has attracted so much attention.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
Between 1980 and 2000, the county's population doubled in size as the coastal areas attracted beach homes and resort properties.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
Fanara ran for governor in the March 2022 primary election, his “common sense” platform attracting 25,086 votes, about 0.4% of those cast.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
The two performances sold well—the second completely—and a large, enthusiastic black audience turned out, a significant achievement for an art form that often has difficulty attracting a diverse public.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
At the time of writing, many of the videos remained online, attracting thousands of likes and shares.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
Music City “is attracting a lot of wealthy residents who move there for jobs and Tennessee’s favorable tax environment,” Redfin noted.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026
Today the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is the most visited memorial in Washington, DC, attracting three million visitors every year.
From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge
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.
