attract
verb (used with object)
to draw by a physical force causing or tending to cause to approach, adhere, or unite; pull (opposed to repel).
were attracting
-
past progressiveof attract.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Projects to exploit rare earth minerals needed for products like smartphones and lithium batteries were attracting massive investment, Ramaphosa said.
From Barron's ● Feb. 12, 2026
Mr Robinson, who runs Hello Starling, a Cardiff-based advertising agency, said vacancies at his business were attracting applications that were riddled with AI-generated sentences.
From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2025
Even Madix’s friends who aren’t on the show but frequently appear on her Instagram page were attracting attention.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 29, 2024
In 2015, noticing that his town’s scenic grasslands were attracting tourists, Taiping, then 30 years old, decided to borrow $15,000 to make and sell his own beef jerky.
From New York Times ● Apr. 28, 2023
He had patches of honey on his shirt, which were attracting a horde of flies and causing him to swat incessantly.
From "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd
