lure

1 of 2

noun

ˈlu̇r 

1

: an object usually of leather or feathers attached to a long cord and used by a falconer to recall or exercise a hawk

2

a

: an inducement to pleasure or gain : enticement

the lure of adventure

the lure of her beauty

b

: appeal, attraction

may succumb to the lure of candy, sodas and other sweets

—Cheryl Jennings-Sauer

3

: a decoy for attracting animals to capture: such as

a

: artificial bait used for catching fish

b

: an often luminous (see luminous sense 1a) structure on the head of pediculate fishes that is used to attract prey

lure

2 of 2

verb

lured; luring

transitive verb

1

: to recall or exercise (a hawk) by means of a lure

2

: to draw with a hint of pleasure or gain : attract actively and strongly

Synonyms

Noun

• allurement
• bait
• come-on
• enticement
• siren song
• temptation
• turn-on

Verb

• allure
• bait
• beguile
• betray
• decoy
• entice
• lead on
• seduce
• solicit
• tempt

Choose the Right Synonym for lure

lure, entice, inveigle, decoy, tempt, seduce mean to lead astray from one's true course.

lure implies a drawing into danger, evil, or difficulty through attracting and deceiving.

lured naive investors with get-rich-quick schemes

entice suggests drawing by artful or adroit means.

advertising designed to entice new customers

inveigle implies enticing by cajoling or flattering.

fund-raisers inveigling wealthy alumni

decoy implies a luring into entrapment by artifice.

attempting to decoy the enemy into an ambush

tempt implies the presenting of an attraction so strong that it overcomes the restraints of conscience or better judgment.

tempted by the offer of money

seduce implies a leading astray by persuasion or false promises.

seduced by assurances of assistance

Examples of lure in a Sentence

Noun

the promise of easy money is always the lure for some people to play the lottery

the fish simply didn't seem to like the lure I was using, so I didn't catch a thing

Verb

They lured the bear out of its den.

The suburbs are luring middle-class families away from the city.

The police lured him back to the scene of the crime.

Explorers were lured to the area by tales of a city of gold.

An attractive window display can help to lure shoppers into the store.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Daniel likes to make a long cast, then use the rod tip to jerk the lure back to the boat. —Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024

For many people in Brazil, the lure of easy money far outweighed environmental concerns. —Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024

But the company is also accelerating changes within its lavish corporate cafeterias — a longtime lure for tech employees — that will both reduce costs and cut the company’s food waste. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024

Conversely, the thinner the line the less the current can affect it, so by default, a bait or tiny lure presented on light line will appear more natural. —Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 7 Mar. 2024

That lure may be more of a siren song (Asness would likely argue so), but that’s up for debate. —Will Daniel, Fortune, 16 Feb. 2024

The lure with Archway was selling as-is, and quickly. —Archway Homes, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2024

They can be worked slowly and kept in the strike zone; crappie may still be sensitive to cold water and not willing to move too far or fast to chase a lure. —Don Wirth, Field & Stream, 4 Apr. 2024

Europe’s green manufacturers face the lure of attractive US subsidies on the one hand and competition from cheap Chinese products on the other. —John Ainger, Fortune Europe, 2 Apr. 2024

Verb

On Tuesday, Amazon MGM Studios released the trailer for Blink Twice, the directorial debut of Zoë Kravitz out Aug. 23, starring Channing Tatum as tech billionaire Slater King, who lures women to a creepy private island. —Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2024

Channing Tatum takes on the role of a tech billionaire who lures people to his private island in the trailer for Blink Twice, Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut. —Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Apr. 2024

The $168 billion Indian consultancy is using a carrot-and-stick approach to lure its consultants back into the office full-time after scrapping hybrid working for most employees last October. —Byryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 22 Apr. 2024

The group had allegedly tried to kill Butler before, including by attempting to lure her out of her home in Kansas, according to a teenage witness who spoke to investigators. —Jordan Freiman, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2024

Part of what lured Miller to Moderna was that it had been built on newer technology. —John Kell, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024

Premiering this summer, the movie chronicles the shocking story of how Kach was groomed in 1995 by school security guard Tom Hose, who lured her to his McKeesport, Pa., home after grooming her at school. —Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024

Landing on the shores of Brittany, France, the statesman and his grandson, Temple (Noah Jupe), embark on a mission to politically and financially lure French diplomats to America’s side. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024

Prosecutors said Geyser and Weier lured Leutner to a wooded area in Waukesha after a sleepover in May 2014. —Stepheny Price, Fox News, 12 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French lure, leure, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle High German luoder bait; perhaps akin to Old English lathian to invite, Old High German ladōn

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

lure

1 of 2 noun

ˈlu̇(ə)r 

1

a

: something that persuades one to perform an action for pleasure or gain : temptation

b

: appeal entry 1 sense 3, attraction

2

: a decoy for attracting animals to capture

especially : an artificial bait used for catching fish

lure

2 of 2 verb

lured; luring

: to tempt or lead away by offering some pleasure or advantage : entice