attraction

noun

at·​trac·​tion ə-ˈtrak-shən 

1

a

: the act, process, or power of attracting

b

: personal charm

2

: the action or power of drawing forth a response : an attractive quality

3

: a force acting mutually between particles of matter, tending to draw them together, and resisting their separation

4

: something that attracts or is intended to attract people by appealing to their desires and tastes

coming attractions

Synonyms

• magnet

Choose the Right Synonym for attraction

attraction, affinity, sympathy mean the relationship existing between things or persons that are naturally or involuntarily drawn together.

attraction implies the possession by one thing of a quality that pulls another to it.

felt an attraction to danger

affinity implies a susceptibility or predisposition on the part of the one drawn.

an affinity for mathematics

sympathy implies a reciprocal or natural relation between two things that are both susceptible to the same influence.

two minds in sympathy

Examples of attraction in a Sentence

The waterfall continues to be the main attraction at the park.

The town's big attraction for movie lovers is the annual film festival.

She is the star attraction of the show.

There's a strong sexual attraction between them.

His attraction to her grew over the course of their time together.

A good relationship is based on more than just physical attraction.

I understand the attraction of skydiving, but I could never do it.

What are the attractions of owning your own business?

Recent Examples on the Web

The festival’s main attraction is the traditional Bon Odori, in which hundreds of people perform a community dance. —Jane Tyska, Mercury News, 13 July 2025

Best Things to Eat Food is naturally the main attraction in Tsukiji. —Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2025

Parkin Archeological State Park opened in 1994 and has since grown into the main attraction of Parkin. —arkansasonline.com, 12 July 2025

Cooper Flagg’s Mavericks taking on Dylan Harper’s Spurs is the main attraction, but there’s plenty more worth tuning in for on Saturday and Sunday. —Garrett Chorpenning, New York Times, 12 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English attraccioun "(in medicine) drawing of diseased matter to the surface, extraction," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French atraction "(in medicine) drawing in of breath, suction," borrowed from Late Latin attractiōn-, attractiō "act of attracting or contracting" (Medieval Latin also "drawing towards, enticement, usurpation"), from Latin attrac-, variant stem of attrahere "to draw with force, compel to come" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at attract

First Known Use

circa 1575, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing attraction

• capillary attraction
• star attraction

Rhymes for attraction

• abstraction
• compaction
• contraction
• detraction
• diffraction
• distraction
• exaction
• extraction
• impaction
• inaction
• infraction
• olfaction

Kids Definition

attraction

noun

at·​trac·​tion ə-ˈtrak-shən 

1

: the act, process, or power of attracting

2

: something that attracts or pleases

3

: a force acting between particles of matter, tending to draw them together, and resisting their separation

Medical Definition

attraction

noun

at·​trac·​tion ə-ˈtrak-shən 

: a force acting mutually between particles of matter, tending to draw them together, and resisting their separation

attract

ə-ˈtrakt 

transitive verb