Meaning & use
attracting attention
Last updated
“attracting attention” is a form of “attract attention”.
Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
Making people notice you or something, often because of your appearance, behavior, or actions.
Grammar: Used as a verb phrase; the base form is attract attention. It can be used with or without an object: attract attention / attract someone's attention.
Patterns
- attract attention
- attract someone's attention
- without attracting attention
- avoid attracting attention
She wore a bright red dress, attracting attention as soon as she walked in.
The strange noise from the engine was attracting attention from everyone on the street.
He tried to leave the party quietly without attracting attention.
phrasefixed phrase
Making someone look at or listen to you, especially to get help or to speak to them.
Grammar: Often used as attract someone's attention, meaning to make a particular person notice you.
Patterns
- attract someone's attention
- attracting the attention of someone
The waiter was attracting the attention of the manager to deal with the complaint.
She waved her hand, attracting the attention of the bus driver.
The child was attracting his mother's attention by pulling her sleeve.
Word forms
| base form | attract attention |
|---|---|
| third person singular | attracts attention |
| past tense | attracted attention |
| past participle | attracted attention |
| -ing form | attracting attention |
Common combinations
- without attracting attention
- He slipped out of the room without attracting attention.
- avoid attracting attention
- She dressed plainly to avoid attracting attention.
- attract a lot of attention
- The new product attracted a lot of attention at the trade fair.
- attract unwanted attention
- Loud behavior in public can attract unwanted attention.
Synonyms and how they differ
- draw attention
- Very similar, but often used for something that naturally pulls people's notice, e.g. 'The painting draws attention.'
- get noticed
- More informal and focuses on the result of being seen, rather than the act of making people notice.
- stand out
- Means to be easily seen as different or better, not just to be noticed.
Opposites
Word family
- attract verb
- To make someone or something come closer or show interest.
- attention noun
- The act of watching or listening carefully to someone or something.
- attractive adjective
- Pleasing to look at; interesting or appealing.
Commonly confused: attracting attention or paying attention?
attracting attention vs paying attention
Paying attention means watching or listening carefully to something. Attracting attention means making other people notice you. They are almost opposite in focus.
Practice
She didn't want to be seen, so she walked into the room quietly, ___ attention.
Choose one answer.
Attracting attention means making people notice you, which fits here because she wanted to avoid being noticed. Paying attention means watching or listening carefully, which does not fit the context of being seen.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “attracting attention”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.