ə.ˈtrakt verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English attracten, from Latin attractus, past participle of attrahere, from ad- + trahere to draw — more at draw
transitive verb
1. obsolete : to draw or draw in especially by suction or pulling : inhale
2. : to cause to approach or adhere: as
a. : to draw to or toward oneself
a magnet attracts iron
b. : to call forth or compel (as interest in or appreciation of)
often attracts admiring glances
her agitation at a steeplechase … attracts her husband's notice — Matthew Arnold
c. : to invite or draw by exposure or openness or by some natural appeal
a swarm in the tree for weeks, attracted by some secretion — Richard Jefferies
attract bitter criticism
d. : to draw or entice to one by an aesthetic or emotional appeal
clad in a pale buff frock … she attracted every eye — John Galsworthy
e. : to interest and lead to consideration, participation, or attendance
the talent which the organization attracted
intransitive verb
: to exercise or exhibit attraction
her voice has the power to attract
opposites attract
Synonyms:
allure , captivate , fascinate , bewitch , charm , enchant , take : of these words attract is at once the widest in its use and the least rich in connotation. It stresses the fact of one thing's being able to draw another to it in some way or other
tempting summer, when song and shade and colour attract every one to the field — Richard Jefferies
to Papa, who had begun to be attracted rather against his will — Virginia Woolf
men could be attracted into these by higher pay or shorter hours — Bertrand Russell
allure may add the notion of the enticement of something good or enjoyable being offered or withheld
new class of technicians, allured by their wide opportunities of service — Bernard Pares
the beauty that allured men for pleasure had failed to hold them — Ellen Glasgow
captivate , like the succeeding words in this list, suggests an appeal irresistible and blocking rational consideration which might diminish its force. captivate is less strong than the following words since it may be used for fleeting or short-lived impressions produced by an individual trait
a serene expression upon her face which captivated almost all who saw her — Samuel Butler †1902
the Republican State Convention … captivated by his address as temporary chairman, nominated him for governor — A.C.Flick
fascinate , in older usage and sometimes in today's, implies a spell which irresistibly transfixes the victim
the younger and weaker man was fascinated and helpless before the creeping approach of so monstrous a wrath — G.D.Brown
It often indicates a compelling attraction or interest or enthusiasm
James … carried the exploration of the technics of his craft into depths and recesses almost as fascinating as Leonardo da Vinci's abstruse, inspired-looking speculations about his — C.E.Montague
bewitch suggests domination and absorption of interest or liking precluding any check and possibly against the subject's will
if you suffer yourself to think how pretty they are, you are bewitched and vanquished — Lafcadio Hearn
these small splinters of perfection in the art of letters would still bewitch us if they had no context at all — C.E.Montague
charm suggests domination as by magic; it indicates pleasure on the subject's part and may be used with reference to sensuous or social traits that appeal
she gave some attention to her flowers, but it was perfunctorily bestowed, for they no longer charmed her — Thomas Hardy
a grace about him which charmed, and a hint of latent power which impressed — John Buchan
enchant is possibly the strongest word in the list; it may suggest a more complex appeal, its irresistibility, utter absence of thoughtful reservation, and sheer delight on the part of the subject
a mature person … cannot be utterly enchanted by what he feels to be trivial or false — George Santayana
man's power to enchant himself with his own dreams — Irving Babbitt
take , usually used in the passive, is somewhat informal and has suggestions ranging from those of attract to those of captivate
he stared at her … the more he stared, the more taken was he — Rudyard Kiplng