attraction

attraction — noun

1. a place, event, feature, or quality that makes people feel something is worth vi

1.nounB1
Definition

a place, event, feature, or quality that makes people feel something is worth visiting, seeing, joining, or having

Example

The night market is the city's biggest tourist attraction every summer.

tourist attraction

Free childcare was a big attraction for young parents at the gym.

attraction for + group

Common collocations
  • tourist attraction
  • main attraction
  • big attraction
  • major attraction for visitors
  • added attraction
Synonyms
  • appeal

    focuses on the pleasing quality rather than the thing itself

  • draw

    often stresses the power to bring crowds or customers

  • highlight

    suggests the most interesting part of a place or event

  • selling point

    used especially for features that help persuade buyers

Antonyms
  • deterrent

    something that makes people stay away instead

  • drawback

    a negative feature rather than an attractive one

Grammar Patterns

a tourist attraction

the main attraction

an attraction for somebody

Usage Note

Often names what pulls visitors, customers, or attention toward something, and it commonly appears with main, tourist, or big. Distinguish from sense 2, which is a feeling toward a person, not a feature of a place, event, or offer.

Common Mistakes

The free bus service is very attraction for students.
The free bus service is a big attraction for students.
attraction is a noun, so it needs an article or another determiner.

2. the feeling of being strongly drawn to someone, especially in a romantic or sexu

2.nounC2
Definition

the feeling of being strongly drawn to someone, especially in a romantic or sexual way

Example

Evan felt an immediate attraction to the woman at the bookshop.

attraction to + person

The couple grew more strongly attracted to each other on the long train ride north.

Common collocations
  • feel attraction to somebody
  • mutual attraction
  • physical attraction
  • strong attraction
  • attraction between them
Synonyms
  • desire

    can be broader and stronger, not only about first liking

  • chemistry

    suggests a shared spark between two people

  • infatuation

    stronger and often less steady or less realistic

  • interest

    weaker and less physical than attraction

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

feel attraction to somebody

physical attraction

attraction between two people

Usage Note

Most often appears in the patterns attraction to somebody and attraction between two people. Distinguish from sense 1, where attraction is the feature that pulls people toward a place, event, or offer.

Common Mistakes

I felt an attraction with him after dinner.
I felt an attraction to him after dinner.
this sense normally uses to for the person you are drawn toward.

3. the force that makes one object move toward another instead of away from it

3.noun
Definition

the force that makes one object move toward another instead of away from it

Example

Gravity is the attraction that keeps the moon near Earth.

scientific use of attraction

Magnetic attraction pulled the paper clip across the table.

magnetic attraction

Common collocations
  • gravitational attraction
  • magnetic attraction
  • attraction between particles
  • force of attraction
Synonyms
  • pull

    a simpler everyday word for the movement toward something

  • force

    broader and can describe many kinds of physical action

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

gravitational attraction

magnetic attraction

attraction between objects

Usage Note

Mostly used in scientific contexts and often modified by words like gravitational or magnetic. Unlike senses 1 and 2, this sense describes a real physical force between objects.

Common Mistakes

There was strong attraction of the two magnets.
There was strong attraction between the two magnets.
this sense usually uses between to link the objects involved.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For sense 1, attraction can name either the thing itself or the quality that makes people come, look, or sign up. Appeal is slightly broader and often focuses more on the pleasing quality than on the place or event. Draw is common when talking about crowds, ticket sales, or business. Highlight usually means the best part of a trip, show, or festival. Selling point is narrower and is often used for features that help persuade buyers or job seekers. A night market can be a tourist attraction, a singer can be the main draw, and flexible hours can be the job's biggest selling point.

attraction ↗appeal ↗drawhighlight ↗selling point

Common collocations

Prepositions

  • attraction for
  • attraction to
  • attraction between

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Attraction comes from a Latin word family built on the idea of drawing something toward you. English first used it for the act or force of pulling, and later widened it to include charm, interest, and places or features that pull people in.