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noun B1 Intermediate Common

attraction

uh-TRAKSHN
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Attraction (noun) means a place, event, or thing that draws visitors or interest. Example: “The old castle is the main attraction for visitors to the village.”

noun
1
A place, event, or thing that draws visitors or interest.
"The old castle is the main attraction for visitors to the village."
"Children love the theme park, but the small zoo is a quieter attraction nearby."
"The waterfall is the town's biggest tourist attraction."
2
A feeling of being drawn to someone, especially romantically or sexually.
"He could not explain the sudden attraction he felt when she walked into the room."
"Their friendship slowly turned into something more as the attraction between them grew."
"There was an obvious attraction between the two of them."
3
The physical force by which objects pull toward each other.
"Magnets work because of the attraction between opposite poles."
"The attraction between the sun and the planets holds the whole solar system together."
"Gravitational attraction keeps the moon in orbit around the earth."

How to use attraction

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething that draws interest or visitors, a feeling of being drawn to someone, or a physical pulling force.

Common pairings
tourist attraction physical attraction mutual attraction
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Word forms

Plural
attractions
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The old castle is the main _____ for visitors to the village.

Etymology

From Latin attractio, from attrahere ("to draw toward") — the noun form of attract.

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for attraction

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Frequently asked questions

What does “attraction” mean?
The word “attraction” means a place, event, or thing that draws visitors or interest. In plain terms, something that draws interest or visitors, a feeling of being drawn to someone, or a physical pulling force.
How do you pronounce “attraction”?
“Attraction” is pronounced uh-TRAKSHN (/əˈtɹækʃn̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “attraction” in a sentence?
Here is “attraction” used in a sentence: “The waterfall is the town's biggest tourist attraction.”
What is the opposite of “attraction”?
The opposite of “attraction” — its antonyms — is repulsion.
What part of speech is “attraction”?
“Attraction” is a noun.
Where does the word “attraction” come from?
The word “attraction” comes from Latin. From Latin attractio, from attrahere ("to draw toward") — the noun form of attract.
Is “attraction” a common word?
“Attraction” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “attraction” have?
“Attraction” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a place, event, or thing that draws visitors or interest.
What is the difference between "attraction" and "attractiveness"?
"Attraction" is the pull or interest you feel toward someone or something, while "attractiveness" is the quality of being appealing that produces it. You feel attraction; a person or place possesses attractiveness.
What prepositions are used with "attraction"?
Use "attraction to" for a person you are drawn to ("her attraction to him") and "attraction of" or "attraction for" for appeal ("the attraction of city life"). A "tourist attraction" takes no preposition at all.
What is a "tourist attraction"?
A tourist attraction is a place, event, or thing that draws visitors, such as a landmark, museum, or theme park. It is one of the most common uses of the word "attraction."
Is "attraction" countable or uncountable?
It can be both. In the sense of a place that draws visitors it is countable ("the city's main attractions"); in the sense of a feeling of being drawn to someone it is usually uncountable ("mutual attraction").

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