attribute

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

/ verb əˈtrɪb yut; noun ˈæ trəˌbyut /

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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.

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

un·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. 2022

How to use attribute in a sentence

Each prospect has a wingspan that stretches to nearly 7 feet, defensive awareness and a precise 3-point shot as their most attractive attributes, making them tailor-made for an NBA that for the past half-decade has put a premium on such traits.
These 3 NBA Draft Prospects Are Perfect Fits For The Modern League|Michael Pina|November 17, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
The ways in which this creature’s creators have successfully modeled him on human attributes can offer insights into how and why people deem certain beings and certain behaviors undeniably lovable.
What Makes Baby Yoda So Lovable? - Facts So Romantic|Morgan K. Hoke & Douglas K. Smit|November 4, 2020|Nautilus
For example, Akhavan said, in the auto parts vertical, the most obvious attribute is the vehicle that a person drives.
How CarParts.com leverages CDP tech to create customer-centric experiences|Sponsored Content: Blueshift|November 3, 2020|Search Engine Land
ReviewMeta runs 12 tests for veracity, while Review Summarizer compares specific attributes of a product and calculates the percentage of positive and negative reviews for that attribute.
How to spot fake reviews on travel sites|Roy Furchgott|October 29, 2020|Washington Post

At the same time, devices in some of Xilinx’s traditional markets, such as automotive and networking, are increasingly taking on more of the attributes of computers.
AMD to buy Xilinx in $35 billion all-stock deal|Bernhard Warner|October 27, 2020|Fortune
Ambassador Shirley Temple Black attributed this to the “deeply risk-averse psychology of the Czech people.”
How Havel Inspired the Velvet Revolution|Michael Zantovsky|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Similarly, the messages from Saudi Arabia and Yemen were attributed generically to the “mujahideen” in both countries.
Murder Vids Help ISIS Lure More Monsters|Thomas Joscelyn|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Two of the five victims commonly attributed to Jack the Ripper are now suspected of being killed by copycats.
Jack the Ripper Is Still at Large|Christopher Moraff|September 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Indeed, both the legend and legacy of Jack the Ripper are far more gripping than the crime spree attributed to him.
Jack the Ripper Is Still at Large|Christopher Moraff|September 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Scapegoats may seem like random victims, because they are (by definition) not responsible for the evils attributed to them.
Why Do We Hate Hipsters So F'ing Much?|Ted Gioia|July 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The cow happily recovered, which the widow entirely attributed to the efficacy of her pastor's prayer.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
To Willis, however, must be attributed greater advance in the utilization of heavy pressures for reed work.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building|George Laing Miller
He owned a 54-ton yacht named the Opal, and attributed the wonderful health he enjoyed to his numerous sea voyages.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building|George Laing Miller
To many causes may the comparative smallness of success that has attended these be attributed.
The Ordinance of Covenanting|John Cunningham
To this circumstance is to be attributed the difficulty that exists of obtaining any one as servant or in any other capacity.
A Woman's Journey Round the World|Ida Pfeiffer

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

attribute

Origin of attribute

synonym study for attribute

OTHER WORDS FROM attribute

Words related to attribute

How to use attribute in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for attribute

Derived forms of attribute

Word Origin for attribute