attribute

[ verb uh-trib-yoot; noun a-truh-byoot ]

/ verb əˈtrɪb yut; noun ˈæ trəˌbyut /

See synonyms for: attribute / attributed / attributes / attributing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), at·trib·ut·ed, at·trib·ut·ing.

to regard as resulting from a specified cause; consider as caused by something indicated (usually followed by to): She attributed his bad temper to ill health.

to consider as a quality or characteristic of the person, thing, group, etc., indicated: He attributed intelligence to his colleagues.

to consider as made by the one indicated, especially with strong evidence but in the absence of conclusive proof: to attribute a painting to an artist.

to regard as produced by or originating in the time, period, place, etc., indicated; credit; assign: to attribute a work to a particular period; to attribute a discovery to a particular country.

noun

something attributed as belonging to a person, thing, group, etc.; a quality, character, characteristic, or property: Sensitivity is one of his attributes.

something used as a symbol of a particular person, office, or status: A scepter is one of the attributes of a king.

Grammar. a word or phrase that is syntactically subordinate to another and serves to limit, identify, particularize, describe, or supplement the meaning of the form with which it is in construction. In the red house, red is an attribute of house.

Fine Arts. an object associated with or symbolic of a character, office, or quality, as the keys of St. Peter or the lion skin of Hercules.

Philosophy. (in the philosophy of Spinoza) any of the essential qualifications of God, thought and extension being the only ones known.Compare mode¹ (def. 4b).

Logic. (in a proposition) that which is affirmed or denied concerning the subject.

Obsolete. distinguished character; reputation.

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

In our third teacher-created PSAT practice test there are new and unique vocabulary terms you may have never heard of! Can you guess what they mean?

Question 1 of 10

seclusion

a false belief or opinion.

the matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid.

the state of being isolated, kept apart, or withdrawn into solitude.

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Origin of attribute

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin attribūtus “allotted, assigned, imputed to” (past participle of attribuere ), equivalent to at- “toward” + tribū- (stem of tribuere “to assign (to tribes), classify, ascribe”; see at-, tribe) + -tus past participle suffix

synonym study for attribute

1. Attribute, ascribe, impute imply definite origin. Attribute and ascribe are often used interchangeably, to imply that something originates with a definite person or from a definite cause. Ascribe, however, has neutral implications; whereas, possibly because of an association with tribute, attribute is coming to have a complimentary connotation: to ascribe an accident to carelessness; to attribute one's success to a friend's encouragement. Impute has gained uncomplimentary connotations, and usually means to accuse or blame someone or something as a cause or origin: to impute an error to him. 5. See quality.

OTHER WORDS FROM attribute

at·trib·ut·a·ble, adjectiveat·trib·ut·er, at·trib·u·tor, nounmis·at·trib·ute, verb, mis·at·trib·ut·ed, mis·at·trib·ut·ing.non·at·trib·ut·a·ble, adjective

re·at·trib·ute, verb (used with object), re·at·trib·ut·ed, re·at·trib·ut·ing.un·at·trib·ut·a·ble, adjectiveun·at·trib·ut·a·bly, adverbun·at·trib·ut·ed, adjectivewell-at·trib·ut·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for attribute

On the other hand, I’d be surprised if there isn’t some element of athletes being “chosen by their sport” in part based on pre-existing psychological attributes like willingness to suffer.
Why Endurance Athletes Feel Less Pain|Alex Hutchinson|October 7, 2020|Outside Online
There’s a second product under development that’s focused on nutritional attributes for applications in sports nutrition and nutritional supplements, McIntyre said.
Motif Foodworks preps commercial production for its first ingredient, improving the flavor of beef substitutes|Jonathan Shieber|October 1, 2020|TechCrunch
If a campaign is lucky, it will find its way through a wilderness of polling, voter attributes, demographics, turnout, impressions, gerrymandering, and ad buys to connect with voters in a way that moves or even inspires them.
The technology that powers the 2020 campaigns, explained|Tate Ryan-Mosley|September 28, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Local business service attributes in ads These new ad attributes, such as curbside pickup, may be helpful to consumers trying to make buying decisions.
Google local ads gain Smart Bidding for store sales, ‘pick up later,’ service attributes|Greg Sterling|September 23, 2020|Search Engine Land

Genentech’s plan is to feed this information into a neural network that can map a patient’s health attributes.
How to make A.I. smarter|jonathanvanian2015|September 21, 2020|Fortune
While all these deaths are not attributable to ISIS alone, ISIS is identified as the primary actor.
ISIS’s Gruesome Muslim Death Toll|Dean Obeidallah|October 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This and other excellent results are attributable to several changes in the political structure of policing.
Prosecuting Officer Wilson Won't Bring Justice to Ferguson|Candace McCoy|August 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And this appears to be attributable, at least in part, to the fact that Mortenson had secrets he wanted to protect.
Is It Time to Forgive Greg Mortenson?|Jon Krakauer|April 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Part of that is attributable to differences in life choices and family circumstances, but not all.
Wisconsin’s Repeal of Equal Pay Rights Adds to Battles for Women|Michelle Goldberg|April 7, 2012|DAILY BEAST
M.H.M. Vlak, et al. “Trigger Factors and Their Attributable Risk for Rupture of Intracranial Aneurysms.”
Can Coffee Save Your Life?|Anneli Rufus|October 28, 2011|DAILY BEAST
The error is attributable to one of two causes; an ambition to 'gild refined gold,' or unpardonable carelessness.
The Knickerbocker, Vol. 22, No. 5, November 1843|Various
It can only be attributable to that sublimated coquette Nature herself, who provides those little goods the gods deny.
Los Gringos|H. A. (Henry Agustus) Wise
To the inadequate comprehension of this psychological truth is attributable the failure of the Cubists and of Delaunay.
Modern Painting, Its Tendency and Meaning|Willard Huntington Wright
They were to a considerable extent not attributable to one man, but were the bright sayings of the day.
The Handbook of Conundrums|Edith B. Ordway
This is attributable to the lack or scarcity of suitable building-places.
Nests and Eggs of Birds of The United States|Thomas G. Gentry

British Dictionary definitions for attribute

attribute

verb (əˈtrɪbjuːt)

(tr usually foll by to) to regard as belonging (to), produced (by), or resulting (from); ascribe (to)to attribute a painting to Picasso

noun (ˈætrɪˌbjuːt)

a property, quality, or feature belonging to or representative of a person or thing

an object accepted as belonging to a particular office or position

grammar

an adjective or adjectival phrase
an attributive adjective

logic the property, quality, or feature that is affirmed or denied concerning the subject of a proposition

Derived forms of attribute

attributable, adjectiveattributer or attributor, nounattribution (ˌætrɪˈbjuːʃən), noun

Word Origin for attribute

C15: from Latin attribuere to associate with, from tribuere to give

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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attribute

verb (used with object), at·trib·ut·ed, at·trib·ut·ing.

noun

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

Origin of attribute

synonym study for attribute

OTHER WORDS FROM attribute

Example sentences from the Web for attribute

British Dictionary definitions for attribute

verb (əˈtrɪbjuːt)

noun (ˈætrɪˌbjuːt)

Derived forms of attribute

Word Origin for attribute

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

attribute

verb (used with object), at·trib·ut·ed, at·trib·ut·ing.

noun

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

Origin of attribute

synonym study for attribute

OTHER WORDS FROM attribute

Words related to attribute

Example sentences from the Web for attribute

British Dictionary definitions for attribute

verb (əˈtrɪbjuːt)

noun (ˈætrɪˌbjuːt)

Derived forms of attribute

Word Origin for attribute