attraction

[ uh-trak-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act, power, or property of attracting.
2. attractive quality; magnetic charm; fascination; allurement; enticement:

   the subtle attraction of her strange personality.

   Synonyms: lure, appeal

3. a person or thing that draws, attracts, allures, or entices:

   The main attraction was the after-dinner speaker.

4. a characteristic or quality that provides pleasure; attractive feature:

   The chief attractions of the evening were the good drinks and witty conversation.

5. Physics. the electric or magnetic force that acts between oppositely charged bodies, tending to draw them together.
6. an entertainment offered to the public.

   Synonyms: spectacle, show

attraction

/ əˈtrækʃən /

noun

1. the act, power, or quality of attracting
2. a person or thing that attracts or is intended to attract
3. a force by which one object attracts another, such as the gravitational or electrostatic force
4. a change in the form of one linguistic element caused by the proximity of another element

Other Words From

• at·traction·al·ly adverb
• reat·traction noun
• super·at·traction noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of attraction¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English attraccioun, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin attractiōn-, stem of attractiō; equivalent to attract + -ion

Example Sentences

It's a word used to describe people who only develop a sexual attraction to others after forming a deep bond based on their personality, rather than feeling an instant connection.

From BBC

Last year Windsor Castle was the UK's most popular royal tourist attraction, with 1.4 million visitors.

From BBC

Riders journey through the bayou in search of the perfect band to perform before plunging down the attraction’s signature 50-foot drop.

From Los Angeles Times

With the opening Friday of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Disneyland has formally rid itself of an attraction that came to be seen as problematic.

From Los Angeles Times

"I think it's a big part of the attraction because no-one knows who they are," says fan Devon, from Plymouth.

From BBC

Related Words

• allure
• appeal
• attractiveness
• interest