What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
attract
Example
The colorful flowers in the garden attract butterflies. [attract: verb]
Example
The new restaurant is attracting a lot of customers with its delicious food. [attracting: present participle]
lure
Example
The store lured customers with a big sale. [lured: past tense]
Example
The fisherman used a shiny lure to catch the fish. [lure: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Attract is more commonly used than lure in everyday language. Attract is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while lure is more specific and often associated with fishing or trapping.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between attract and lure?
While attract is typically associated with a neutral and informal tone, lure can have a negative connotation and is often used in more formal or specific contexts related to fishing or trapping.