attitude
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.the way you think or feel about something.
n.a settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person's behaviour.
Simple“If you have a positive attitude, you will enjoy your new job much more.”
In context“The survey revealed that public attitudes toward renewable energy have shifted significantly over the last decade.”
UsageOften used with the prepositions 'to' or 'towards'.
PitfallHe has a positive attitude for his work. He has a positive attitude toward his work.Use 'toward' or 'to' when describing what the attitude is directed at.
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a rude or confident way of acting that shows you do not care about others.
n.a confrontational, arrogant, or uncooperative manner. Often used in the phrase 'to have an attitude'.
Simple“Don't give me that attitude just because I asked you to clean your room.”
In context“The waiter's dismissive attitude eventually prompted the customers to leave a formal complaint with the manager.”
Teacher's tipThis is often used by parents or teachers to describe a child being difficult or talking back.
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
n.the way you hold your body when standing or sitting.
n.the position of the body or a way of carrying oneself; a posture.
Simple“The statue showed a man in a proud attitude with his head held high.”
In context“The dancer maintained a graceful attitude throughout the performance, even during the most physically demanding sequences.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
n.the position of a plane or ship in relation to the ground or the horizon.
n.the orientation of an aircraft, spacecraft, or ship relative to a frame of reference, such as the horizon or the direction of motion.
Simple“The pilot adjusted the plane's attitude to prepare for landing.”
In context“The satellite's attitude control system malfunctioned, causing it to drift away from its intended orbital alignment.”
UsageCommon in aerospace and nautical engineering contexts.
Synonyms - 05 C2 Proficiency
v.to move or pose in a way that shows a certain feeling.
v.to assume a particular physical position or to express a mental state through one's posture and bearing.
Simple“The actors began to attitude on stage to show their characters' emotions.”
In context“He spent the evening attituding before the guests, desperate to appear more sophisticated than he actually was.”
Usage directly attitude · explore attitude · general attitude
From French attitude, from Italian attitudine (“attitude, aptness”), from Medieval Latin aptitūdō (“aptitude”) and actitūdō (“acting, posture”), from Latin aptō and actitō. Doublet of aptitude.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.