allure

1 of 2

verb

al·​lure ə-ˈlu̇r How to pronounce allure (audio)
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 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
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 was a dark, alluring pinball arcade; a giant, slightly scary parking garage; a movie theatre; a food court anchored by an Orange Julius. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2024 Sheldon Chalet in Denali National Park will allure couples who prioritize luxury above all else. Jillian Dara, Robb Report, 29 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for allure 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'allure.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of allure was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near allure

Cite this Entry

“Allure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allure. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

allure

1 of 2 verb
al·​lure ə-ˈlu̇(ə)r How to pronounce allure (audio)
allured; alluring
: to try to attract or influence by offering what seems to be a benefit or pleasure
allurement noun

allure

2 of 2 noun
: power of attraction : charm

More from Merriam-Webster on allure

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!