Meaning & use
attractive
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Pleasing to look at; physically appealing.
Grammar: Can be used before a noun (an attractive person) or after a linking verb (She is attractive). Comparative: more attractive.
Patterns
- attractive to someone
- look attractive
- find someone attractive
He is a very attractive man with a warm smile.
The garden looks especially attractive in spring.
She found the old cottage attractive despite its small size.
adjectivecomparable
Interesting or desirable because it offers a benefit or advantage.
Grammar: Often used with 'to': The offer is attractive to young buyers.
Patterns
- attractive offer
- attractive to someone
- attractive proposition
The company made an attractive offer that she couldn't refuse.
Low interest rates make this an attractive time to buy a house.
The idea of working from home is attractive to many employees.
Word forms
| comparative | more attractive |
|---|---|
| superlative | most attractive |
Common combinations
- attractive offer
- They received an attractive offer for their old car.
- attractive to
- The job is particularly attractive to recent graduates.
- physically attractive
- He is physically attractive but not very talkative.
- attractive proposition
- Investing in the startup seemed an attractive proposition.
- attractive price
- The store sells good furniture at attractive prices.
Synonyms and how they differ
- beautiful
- Beautiful is stronger and often used for people or things that are strikingly lovely; attractive is milder and more general.
- appealing
- Appealing suggests something that interests or pleases you, but it is less about physical looks than attractive.
- good-looking
- Good-looking is informal and used mainly for people's appearance; attractive can describe offers, ideas, and prices too.
Opposites
Word family
- attract verb
- To make someone or something come closer or feel interested.
- attraction noun
- A feeling of liking someone, or a quality that makes something interesting.
- attractively adverb
- In a way that is pleasing or appealing.
- attractiveness noun
- The quality of being attractive.
Commonly confused: attractive or attracted?
attractive vs attracted
Attracted is the past participle of the verb and often used with 'to': I am attracted to him. Attractive is an adjective describing someone or something: He is attractive.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
The correct preposition after 'attractive' when saying who likes something is 'to': attractive to young families. 'For' is sometimes used but less standard; 'with' and 'at' do not fit this meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “attractive”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.