# attractive

/əˈtɹæktɪv/ (US) · /ɐtɹˈæktɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/attractive
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. physically beautiful

adjective · CEFR A2

pleasant to look at, especially when talking about a person's appearance.

For teachers: pleasing or appealing to the senses; aesthetically pleasing, particularly regarding human physical appearance.

- She is a very attractive woman with a kind smile.
- The portrait depicted an attractive young man whose features were softened by the warm afternoon light of the studio.

### 2. appealing or interesting

adjective · CEFR B1

having qualities that make you want to accept something or find out more about it.

For teachers: having qualities that arouse interest, pleasure, or admiration; providing a compelling reason to choose a particular option.

- The company offered him a very attractive salary and a new car.
- The proposed merger became increasingly attractive to shareholders as the potential for global expansion became clear.

### 3. magnetic force

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

having a natural force that pulls things toward it.

For teachers: possessing the inherent physical property of attraction, such as magnetism or gravity.

- The attractive force between the two magnets was very strong.
- The experiment measured the attractive gravitational pull exerted by the massive lead spheres on the smaller test weights.

## Examples

- The new park is very attractive in the summer.
- The company offered her an attractive salary package that included a bonus and extra vacation days.
- While the exterior of the building is undeniably attractive, the interior layout remains poorly suited to the needs of a modern office environment.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.