attract
gb/ətɹˈækt/ us/ətɹˈækt/
A2
English
~ 1600
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A2
action
1
Cause interest or liking
To make someone want to look at, know about, or like something or someone.
Usage pattern:
to attract [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'attract' with 'invite'. 'Invite' means to ask someone to come, while 'attract' means to make them want to come without directly asking.
Synonyms
appeal (Often suggests a more emotional or aesthetic draw rather than active effort.)
Antonyms
repel (Means to push away or cause dislike instead of interest.)
Collocations
attract attention
|attract customers
|attract interest
|attract visitors
|attract talent
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|marketing
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The new café hopes to attract more customers with live music.
- Her bright smile attracted everyone's attention.
- The festival attracts thousands of visitors every year.
- The job posting is designed to attract talented graduates.
- The unusual design attracted a lot of media interest.
Learner examples
- The shop attracts many people.
- The park attracts birds.
- This movie will attract children.
- Good food attracts customers.
- The flower attracts bees.
Verb
B1
action
2
Pull by physical force
To make something come closer because of a natural power like a magnet or gravity.
Usage pattern:
to attract [something]
Common mistake:
Some learners use 'pull' instead of 'attract', but 'pull' is more general and not always caused by natural forces.
Synonyms
draw (Often interchangeable in physical contexts, but can also mean general movement toward.)
Antonyms
repel (In physics, means to push away instead of pull toward.)
Collocations
attract particles
|attract dust
|attract insects
|attract metal objects
Themes
science
|physics
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Magnets attract iron and steel.
- The light attracts insects at night.
- The planet's gravity attracts objects toward its surface.
- Static electricity can attract small pieces of paper.
- The sugar water attracts ants.
Learner examples
- A magnet attracts nails.
- The sun attracts the planets.
- Light attracts bugs.
- The earth attracts the moon.
- Sugar attracts ants.
Grammar
Dictionary form
attract
IPA
GB/ətɹˈækt/
US/ətɹˈækt/
Syllables & stress
at - tract (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tract)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: attract
- 3rd Person Singular: attracts
- Present Participle: attracting
- Past: attracted
Word family
Forms
attracts
verb
attracting
verb
attracted
verb
Core family
attraction
noun B1
attractive
adjective A2
Related words
attractively
adverb
attractiveness
noun B2
Negative and opposite forms
unattractive
adjective B2
Expressions
attract investment
1/ətɹˈækt ɪnvˈɛstmənt/
fixed phrase
Bring in investor money
To get people or companies to give money for a project or business.
Examples
- The startup hopes to attract investment from overseas.
- They are working hard to attract investment in renewable energy.
be attracted to
1/bˈi ətɹˈæktɪd tə/
fixed phrase
Feel interest in
To like someone or something in a way that makes you want to be near them or know them better.
Examples
- He is attracted to her intelligence and humor.
- Many young people are attracted to city life.
attract attention
1/ətɹˈækt ətˈɛnʃən/
fixed phrase
Make people notice
To make people look at or think about something.
Examples
- His unusual hairstyle attracted a lot of attention.
- Her colorful dress attracted attention at the party.
- The ad is designed to attract customer attention.
- The ad was designed to attract attention quickly.