- 1 [usually passive] if you are attracted by something, it interests you and makes you want it; if you are attracted by somebody, you like or admire them attract somebody I had always been attracted by the idea of working abroad. attract somebody to somebody/something What first attracted me to her was her sense of humour. That was what first attracted me to the place.
- 2 attract somebody/something (to something) to make somebody/something come somewhere or take part in something The warm damp air attracts a lot of mosquitoes. The exhibition has attracted thousands of visitors.
- 3 attract something to make people have a particular reaction This proposal has attracted a lot of interest. His comments were bound to attract criticism. She tried to attract the attention of the waiter.
- 4(physics) if a magnet or gravity attracts something, it makes it move towards it opposite repel Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin attract- ‘drawn near’, from the verb attrahere, from ad- ‘to’ + trahere ‘draw’.Idioms
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BrE BrE//əˈtrækt//; NAmE NAmE//əˈtrækt//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they attract BrE BrE//əˈtrækt//; NAmE NAmE//əˈtrækt//
he / she / it attracts BrE BrE//əˈtrækts//; NAmE NAmE//əˈtrækts//
past simple attracted BrE BrE//əˈtræktɪd//; NAmE NAmE//əˈtræktɪd//
past participle attracted BrE BrE//əˈtræktɪd//; NAmE NAmE//əˈtræktɪd//
-ing form attracting BrE BrE//əˈtræktɪŋ//; NAmE NAmE//əˈtræktɪŋ//
used to say that people who are very different are often attracted to each other
Check pronunciation: attract
