allure

1 of 2

verb

al·​lure ə-ˈlu̇r 

allured; alluring

transitive verb

: to entice by charm or attraction

… I had been fool enough to allow myself to be so quickly allured by her charms …

—Anthony Trollope

allurement

ə-ˈlu̇r-mənt 

noun

allure

2 of 2

noun

: power of attraction or fascination : charm

the allure of fame

rare books that hold a special allure for collectors

Synonyms

Verb

• beguile
• bewitch
• captivate
• charm
• enchant
• fascinate
• kill
• magnetize
• wile
• witch [archaic]

Noun

• animal magnetism
• appeal
• attractiveness
• captivation
• charisma
• charm
• duende
• enchantment
• fascination
• force field
• glamour
• glamor
• magic
• magnetism
• oomph
• pizzazz
• pizazz
• seductiveness
• witchery

Choose the Right Synonym for allure

attract, allure, charm, captivate, fascinate, enchant mean to draw another by exerting a powerful influence.

attract applies to any degree or kind of ability to exert influence over another.

students attracted by the school's locale

allure implies an enticing by what is fair, pleasing, or seductive.

an alluring smile

charm implies the power of casting a spell over the person or thing affected and so compelling a response

charmed by their hospitality

, but it may, like captivate, suggest no more than evoking delight or admiration.

her performances captivated audiences

fascinate suggests a magical influence and tends to stress the ineffectiveness of attempts to resist.

a story that continues to fascinate children

enchant is perhaps the strongest of these terms in stressing the appeal of the agent and the degree of delight evoked in the subject.

hopelessly enchanted by her beauty

Examples of allure in a Sentence

Verb

was so allured by his sister's college roommate that before long he was asking her for a date

allured by the promise of big bucks, he decided to have a go at a job on the trading floor of the stock market

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

There’s one kind of gay villain, though, that seems especially alluring these days, including to gay men. —Mark Harris, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2023

Enjoy a variety of delectable flavors, like energizing mint, zingy citrus, clean and natural, scrumptious strawberry, and even alluring cookies & cream. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 24 July 2023

In between are alluring coastal villages, secluded beaches and an interior wine region. —Mary Novakovich, CNN, 5 June 2023

Robinson's range for being selected likely opens at No. 8 with the Falcons, who could be allured by the dynamic all-purpose talent despite the return of 1,000-yard rusher Tyler Allgeier. —Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAY, 27 Apr. 2023

But that treachery is made to seem alluring through miscreant characterizations that media folk can disavow. —Armond White, National Review, 5 Apr. 2023

This silt absorbs purple and indigo wavelengths, and the water absorbs red, orange, and yellow, leaving the dazzling blue-green water that allures hikers, bikers, and lakeside strollers. —Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2023

More: The New Cheval Blanc Paris Finally Opens Read Reviews Cheval Blanc Paris Loire Valley, France France's most popular summertime playground is obviously the Côte d'Azur, but the countryside is just as—if not more—alluring. —Leena Kim, Town & Country, 2 Mar. 2023

While Bianca seeks to allure, Wednesday wants to repel. —Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 8 Dec. 2022

Noun

The ever-enduring allure of a gray sweater makes this staple a necessity this season. —Porter Simmons, Vogue, 24 Nov. 2023

Yet, more recently, the allure of H Street has faded as the corridor has come to reflect a more contemporary version of Washington — a city still recovering from the pandemic, buffeted by economic uncertainty and battered by violent crime. —Paul Schwartzman, Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2023

There are many aspects of the show that resonate with viewers, but Los Angeles’ gorgeous, buzzing restaurants are a key component to building the allure of the agents and the show. —Michelle Duncan, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Nov. 2023

The allure of any good coquito is in its layered, nutty coconut flavor. —Inés Anguiano, Bon Appétit, 15 Nov. 2023

The primary allure lies in the inherent properties of the tokens — providing a proof of ownership and ensuring provenance, which are pivotal in sectors like art, gaming, and customer engagement. —Anastasia Chernikova, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023

The allure of the shrimping and crabbing life was too strong. —Amy Qin Callaghan O’Hare, New York Times, 12 Nov. 2023

The allure of female youth is so culturally ubiquitous that a filmmaker’s examining it from the inside out can be a defamiliarizing exercise. —Molly Fischer, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023

Rome in December exudes a festive allure with holiday markets. —Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 6 Nov. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English aluren, from Middle French alurer, from Old French, from a- (from Latin ad-) + lure, leure lure — more at lure

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1534, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

allure

1 of 2 verb

al·​lure ə-ˈlu̇(ə)r 

allured; alluring

: to try to attract or influence by offering what seems to be a benefit or pleasure

allurement

-mənt 

noun

allure

2 of 2 noun

: power of attraction : charm