INDEX:
1. to make someone like or want to do something
2. to make someone want to go to a place
3. making you like someone or something, or to want to do something
4. something that attracts people
RELATED WORDS
attractive/good looking : ↑ BEAUTIFUL
sexually attractive : ↑ SEXY
to talk to someone in a way that shows you are sexually attracted to someone : ↑ TALK (9)
attract someone’s attention : ↑ ATTENTION
to make someone like something : ↑ LIKE
to make someone dislike something : ↑ DISLIKE (4)
see also
↑ INTERESTED
↑ GOOD
↑ NICE
↑ WANT/NOT WANT
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1. to make someone like or want to do something
▷ attract /əˈtrækt/ [transitive verb]
▪ The drug’s low price attracts school- and college-age users.
attract somebody to something
▪ What attracts me to the job is the salary and the possibility of foreign travel.
attract interest/support/attention etc
▪ Politicians still risk having affairs, knowing the massive media attention they attract.
▷ tempt /tempt/ [transitive verb]
to make someone want to have or do something, even though they know they really should not :
▪ The Parisian shops have things to tempt even the strongest of wills.
▪ Too many investors are tempted by the idea of making a quick fortune.
tempt somebody into (doing) something
▪ Most infomercials try to tempt television viewers into buying beauty aids, kitchen gadgets and other products.
be tempted to do something
▪ I’m tempted to take a nice long vacation before I start the new job.
▷ seduce /sɪˈdjuːsǁ-ˈduːs/ [transitive verb]
to attract someone to buy a particular product, support a particular political party etc, by making it seem very attractive - used especially in order to show disapproval :
▪ The government has been accused of bringing down taxes simply as a means of seducing voters.
▪ Hunt was seduced by the lure of fame and show business.
seduce somebody into doing something
▪ TV advertisements seduce people into buying a particular kind of chocolate bar, washing powder or car.
2. to make someone want to go to a place
▷ attract /əˈtrækt/ [transitive verb]
▪ Leftover food attracts flies.
attract somebody into/to/towards etc
▪ The special low rent is designed to attract new businesses to the area.
▷ draw /drɔː/ [transitive verb]
if an event or place draws a large number of people, it attracts them, because it is very popular :
▪ The football game is expected to draw a crowd of around 50,000.
draw somebody from
▪ Such was the reputation of the school that it drew boys from all over the south of England.
▪ It was an unparalleled gathering of black artists from around the world, drawing delegates from fifty countries.
▷ bring in /ˌbrɪŋ ˈɪn/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to make people want to go to a place or event, take part in something, or join an organization :
bring in somebody/something
▪ Officials know that fixing up the area will bring in more visitors, and eventually new businesses.
bring somebody/something in
▪ The police force introduced a new advertising campaign, in an attempt to bring more recruits in from ethnic minorities.
▷ lure /lʊəʳ, ljʊəʳǁlʊər/ [transitive verb]
to make someone come to a place by offering or showing them something they want, often in order to harm them or deceive them :
lure somebody to/into/away etc
▪ The burglary was set up in order to lure the police officer into an ambush.
▪ Ever since I left the company they have been making attempts to lure me back.
3. making you like someone or something, or to want to do something
▷ attractive /əˈtræktɪv/ [adjective]
▪ The houses were situated in an attractive spot, near the river.
▪ an attractive personality
▪ The staff includes many top scientists who left attractive jobs elsewhere to join the hard-driving CEO.
▪ Lower rates have made other currencies, such as the dollar, more attractive.
attractive to
▪ Improvements to public infrastructure is one way of making depressed areas more attractive to private industry.
▷ appealing /əˈpiːlɪŋ/ [adjective]
someone or something that is appealing has qualities that make people like them :
▪ Having someone to do all my cleaning for me was an appealing prospect.
▪ He decided to follow the example of his one-time political mentor, Nixon, and make himself a more appealing candidate.
▪ Although a warmer climate may sound appealing, the effects of the heat can be difficult to cope with.
▷ tempting /ˈtemptɪŋ/ [adjective]
something that is tempting is something that you want to do or have very much, but which you have doubts about doing or having :
▪ I’ve recently received a very tempting job offer from IBM.
▪ Inside you’ll find tempting recipes from around the world, all beautifully illustrated.
▪ It was very tempting - only £50 for a ticket to the fight - but I decided to save the money.
▷ irresistible /ˌɪrɪˈzɪstɪb ə l, ˌɪrɪˈzɪstəb ə l/ [adjective]
so good or attractive that you feel you must have it or do it :
▪ The table was covered with irresistible chocolate desserts of all descriptions.
irresistible to
▪ High interest rates have made these saving plans irresistible to small investors.
▪ To my parents, the pull of this beautiful country town must have seemed irresistible.
▷ enticing /ɪnˈtaɪsɪŋ/ [adjective]
something that is enticing attracts you very strongly, especially because it is interesting and you want to find out more about it :
▪ enticing smells coming from the kitchen
enticing to
▪ The advertisers have been accused of trying to make the alcoholic drinks enticing to teenagers.
4. something that attracts people
▷ attraction /əˈtrækʃ ə n/ [countable noun]
the quality that something has, which makes people like it, want it, or feel interested in it. Attraction is also used about places or things to do that people like, find interesting, or want to visit :
▪ A lot of young people take drugs. Personally, I can’t see the attraction.
attraction of
▪ For many mothers, one of the attractions of childcare in the workplace is the chance to be near their children.
a tourist attraction
▪ The Galapagos Islands are one of Ecuador’s main tourist attractions.
▷ appeal /əˈpiːl/ [uncountable noun]
a quality that someone or something has that makes people like it, want it, or feel interested in it :
▪ Much of Corfu’s appeal lies in its lively night life.
▪ Fink writes with eloquence about the appeal of the Jewish faith for her.
▪ The film is flawed, although it has a certain nostalgic appeal.
have popular/universal/mass appeal
be interesting to most people
▪ While animation has universal appeal, audiences have become increasingly insistent on high standards.
▷ the lure of something /ðə ˈlʊər əv something/ [noun phrase]
a strongly attractive quality that makes you want something very much, even though you know it may be bad for you :
▪ It’s hard to escape the lure of credit cards and the access they provide.
▪ In public housing projects, the lure of gangs is strong for teenagers.
▪ I tried hard to settle down, but the lure of travel and adventure was too much for me.
▷ temptation /tempˈteɪʃ ə n/ [countable/uncountable noun]
something that makes you want to do or have something, even though you know you should not :
▪ Life in New York has so many temptations.
temptation to do something
▪ When life was hard, the temptation to start drinking again was strong.
resist (the) temptation
not do something that you would really like to do
▪ She thought of taking a day off work, but resisted the temptation.
give in to (the) temptation
do something that you would really like to do
▪ I finally gave in to temptation and ate a huge piece of cheesecake.
▷ charm /tʃɑːʳm/ [uncountable noun]
a pleasant quality that someone has that makes people like them, feel attracted to them, or be easily persuaded by them. Charm is also used about the special qualities that a place or thing has that make people like it :
▪ With her charm and good looks, she’s sure to be a success.
▪ She was a leader of great character and tremendous personal charm.
▪ The book captures Savannah’s old Southern charm and its eccentric citizens perfectly.