magnet

magnet — noun

1. An object made of iron or steel that pulls other iron-containing items toward it

1.nounB1
Definition

An object made of iron or steel that pulls other iron-containing items toward it using an invisible magnetic force.

Example

The refrigerator door is held shut by a strong <hw>magnet</hw> inside the frame.

collocation: strong magnet

Élise used a <hw>magnet</hw> to pick up iron nails from the garage floor.

magnet + infinitive of purpose

Common collocations
  • strong magnet
  • permanent magnet
  • bar magnet
  • fridge magnet
  • magnet attracts [object]
  • magnet picks up
Synonyms
  • lodestone

    a naturally occurring magnetic rock; now rare in everyday speech

  • electromagnet

    a magnet that works only when electric current passes through it, not a permanent magnet

Usage Note

Countable noun. Frequently used with 'strong', 'powerful', 'permanent', or 'temporary' to describe the type or strength of the magnet.

Common Mistakes

The iron sticked to the magnetic.
The iron stuck to the magnet.
'magnet' is a noun, not an adjective; use 'magnetic' as the adjective form.

2. Someone or something that people find strongly appealing, drawing them in natura

2.nounB2
Definition

Someone or something that people find strongly appealing, drawing them in naturally and often in large numbers.

Example

The town square became a <hw>magnet</hw> for tourists seeking local crafts and food.

pattern: a magnet for [noun phrase]

Asher, a young freelance journalist, was a <hw>magnet</hw> for corruption stories that the big newspapers avoided covering.

Common collocations
  • tourist magnet
  • people magnet
  • magnet for [trouble/talent/crowds]
  • proved a magnet
  • become a magnet
Synonyms
  • draw

    weaker; simply describes pulling interest rather than a strong inherent attractive power

  • attraction

    a more neutral term; 'tourist attraction' is standard but less vivid than 'tourist magnet'

  • crowd-puller

    informal, used especially about events or shows that bring in audiences

Antonyms
  • deterrent

    something that discourages people from coming or participating

  • repellent

    something that drives people away; less common in figurative use

Grammar Patterns

be + a + magnet + for + noun phrase

act as + a + magnet

Usage Note

Figurative extension of the physical meaning. Usually followed by 'for' (a magnet for trouble / tourists / talent) or less commonly 'to'. The subject is often a place, event, activity, or charismatic person.

Common Mistakes

She is a magnet to attract people.
She is a magnet for talented people.
use 'for', not 'to', after this figurative sense of 'magnet'.

magnet — combining form

Word family

  • magnetic
    adjectiveB1
  • magnetism
    nounB2
  • magnetize
    verbC1
  • magnetically
    adverbC1
  • demagnetize
    verbC2
  • electromagnet
    nounC1
  • magneto-
    combining formC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All four words describe something that brings people in, but they differ in strength and register. 'Magnet' (sense 2) is the strongest, suggesting an almost irresistible pull, as in 'the festival was a magnet for music lovers'. 'Attraction' is the most neutral and widely used — a 'tourist attraction' is any place of interest, regardless of how compelling it is. 'Draw' is weaker still; it can be used as a noun ('the main draw of the conference') but often feels informal or limited to specific contexts like events or media. 'Lure' carries a slightly negative connotation of temptation or deception ('the lure of easy money'). 'Crowd-puller' is informal and restricted to shows, events, or performances; you would not call a museum a crowd-puller in formal writing. For learners, 'attraction' is the safest general term, while 'magnet' adds vivid intensity, and 'draw' works well in casual conversation.

attraction ↗drawlure ↗crowd-puller

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • act as a magnet
  • prove a magnet
  • like a magnet

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekLatinEnglish

The word 'magnet' comes from the Latin 'magnes' (lodestone), which was borrowed from the Greek 'magnēs lithos' meaning 'stone of Magnesia' — a region in ancient Thessaly (modern-day Greece) where naturally magnetic rock was first discovered. The figurative sense ('a person or thing that attracts') developed in the late 16th century, and the scientific understanding of magnetism grew through the work of Gilbert, Faraday, and Maxwell in the 17th–19th centuries. The combining form 'magneto-' was adopted directly from Greek for scientific coinages in the 19th century.