attraction

American  

[uh-trak-shuhn] / əˈtræk ʃən /

noun

• attractions
  plural

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

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attraction British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• reattraction
  noun
• superattraction
  noun
• attractionally
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• attractions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of attraction

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

Explanation

The charm or special quality of something that draws you to it is its attraction. The attraction of a college might be its sports program, for example, or the attraction of a job might be its high pay. An attraction can be a physical force as well as a psychological one — though sometimes, as with love, it can be hard to tell the two apart. Planets have a gravitational attraction to each other, as do opposite magnetic poles. Attraction can also refer to a public entertainment, such as a popular place or a performer or event. You might line up to visit a tourist attraction, or look forward to seeing the main attraction go onstage.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

attraction attractions

He has made it difficult for Tuchel to leave him out, the link with Gordon only adding to the attraction for England's head coach.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

For an investor to take on the liabilities, the attraction would be receiving a price that reflects at least the expected value of the claims, they said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

Its sealed perimeter, only accessible via lines and screening, now makes one of the world’s wonders feel less like a wondrous part of the city than an attraction held behind glass.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

The loop, also known as the Mach Loop, is an attraction for aviation enthusiasts and photographers.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

Which made far more sense than her attraction to Boaz ever did.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

Analyst Roger Samuel lists improving contract economics, reduced funding risks, and growing visibility over future earnings among the attractions at Megaport, which he continues to rate as a buy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

Lowering the pH makes the tissue more acidic and temporarily weakens some of the electrical attractions that keep its structure rigid.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 29, 2026

Beyond the apartment itself, its coveted downtown location places its next owner within easy reach of some of Manhattan’s best-known neighborhoods and attractions.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026

Benwell added one of the attractions was the variety of shapes, colours and forms that can be discovered throughout autumn.

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026

But the sign advertising the attractions upstairs doesn’t make much sense to him.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Related Words

• allure
• appeal
• attractiveness
• interest