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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Attract: Definition, Common Uses & Synonyms (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：draw towards (attract)

attract 🔊

/əˈtrækt/

vt.

To make someone or something come closer or pay attention, like a magnet pulling metal.

Attract definition illustrated by magnet pulling paperclips, showing physical draw.

draw towards 🔊

➕

/drɔː təˈwɔːdz/

vt.

To cause someone or something to move closer or become attentive, often through inherent qualities or forces, similar to magnetic attraction.

📁 Category：Culture & History 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'attractus', meaning 'drawn to', from 'ad-' (to) and 'trahere' (to draw).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'attract' like a tractor pulling things in; the 'tract' part relates to drawing or pulling.

📖 Example

The colorful lights and music from the new museum attract many tourists every evening. 🔊 Every evening, the new museum's vibrant lights and music draw many tourists.

🔗 Collocations

attract attention – to draw notice or interest from others

attract customers – to draw in buyers or clients to a business

attract interest – to generate curiosity or engagement in something

🔄 Synonyms

draw (vt.) – to pull or bring towards oneself or a point

pull (vt.) – to exert force to move something closer

lure (vt.) – to attract by offering something desirable or tempting

🚫 Antonyms

repel (vt.) – to drive away or keep at a distance

deter (vt.) – to discourage or prevent from approaching

🌱 Derivatives

attraction (n.) – something that draws interest or people, such as a tourist spot

attractive (adj.) – having the quality of drawing interest or admiration

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'attrahere', meaning 'to draw to'. Historically significant in physics, used to describe gravitational pull as formalized by Newton's law of universal gravitation.

Meaning 2：generate interest (attract)

attract 🔊

/əˈtrækt/

vt.

To make people interested in something or want to invest in it.

Attract meaning in business: entrepreneur generating interest from investors.

generate interest 🔊

➕

/ˈdʒenəreɪt ˈɪntrəst/

vt.

To create interest or desire in people, often for investment, participation, or engagement, typically in contexts like business, policy, or initiatives.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The city’s friendly policies aim to attract more technology companies to set up offices here. 🔊 The city's friendly policies are designed to draw more technology companies to establish offices here.

🔗 Collocations

attract investment – to draw financial resources or funding into a project or region

attract talent – to draw skilled individuals or employees to an organization

attract business – to draw commercial activities or companies to a location

🔄 Synonyms

entice (vt.) – to attract by offering pleasure, advantage, or reward

invite (vt.) – to encourage or attract participation or involvement

captivate (vt.) – to attract and hold interest or attention strongly

🚫 Antonyms

discourage (vt.) – to deter or dissuade from involvement or interest

repel (vt.) – to drive away interest or attention

🌱 Derivatives

attractiveness (n.) – the quality of being appealing or drawing interest, especially in economic terms

attractor (n.) – something that draws people or things, often used in business or science