Attract: Magnets, Crowds and Attention
To attract is to draw something towards you — a magnet draws iron, a festival draws visitors, a headline draws attention. The pull can be physical, commercial or personal.
Attract means to pull something towards you, or to make someone interested. Physics uses it literally; everyday English uses it for crowds, money, criticism and people. Notice that you can attract things you never wanted, such as blame.
- To pull physically. *A magnet attracts iron filings.*
- To draw people or interest. *The exhibition attracted 40,000 visitors.*
- To arouse liking or desire. *She was attracted to him immediately.*
- To bring on (something unwelcome). *The plan attracted fierce criticism.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | attract | Bright colours attract insects. |
| Past | attracted | It attracted little notice. |
| Noun | attraction | The main attraction. |
| Adjective | attractive | An attractive offer. |
| Opposite | repel | Like poles repel. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The scheme attracts a tax relief of ten per cent.Financial English — the scheme brings the relief with it.
- Try not to attract attention on the way out.Attention is the most common object of all.
- Opposites attract, or so the saying goes.Used without an object in proverbs.
Attracted to or attracted by?
- Attracted to — drawn towards a person or a place: *attracted to the coast*
- Attracted by — drawn by a quality or cause: *attracted by the low rent*
- In practice *to* points at the destination and *by* points at the reason
From Latin *attrahere*, to draw towards, built from *ad* (to) and *trahere* (to pull). The same *trahere* gives English tractor, subtract, contract and distract — every one of them a kind of pulling.
Is attractive only about looks?
No. An attractive salary, an attractive proposal and an attractive risk all use the older sense of appealing rather than beautiful.
Can a place attract without people?
Yes. Damp attracts mould, and open food attracts flies. The pull does not need a mind on either end.