attract + object
Causing interest or attention
Use attract directly before the thing being drawn in.
The exhibition attracted many students
Attract to, by, in, towards or for?
Attract is usually used without a preposition, or in passive patterns such as attracted to. Some other prepositions can appear in separate grammatical roles.
Quick answer
Use attract without a preposition or use attracted to
Attract normally takes a direct object: The museum attracts tourists. The adjective form attracted to means interested in or drawn toward someone or something. Attract by, attract in, attract towards, and attract for are limited or nonstandard as direct combinations.
The festival attracts thousands of visitors
She is attracted to classical music
The campaign attracted attention
She is attracted to classical music
The campaign attracted attention
Choose the pattern by meaning
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
attracted to + person/thing
Feeling interest or appeal
The adjective attracted is followed by to.
He felt attracted to the idea
attract interest in + topic
Creating interest in something
In introduces the topic receiving attention.
The article attracted interest in renewable energy
attract by + means
Describing method or feature
By may introduce the means used to attract, but it is not the usual fixed pattern.
The shop attracts customers by offering free samples
See the difference in context
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Construction
Example
Meaning
attract
The city attracts international investors.
Standard transitive use with a direct object.
attracted to
Many readers are attracted to short articles.
Standard adjective pattern meaning interested in or drawn toward.
attract by
The brand attracts buyers by keeping prices low.
By introduces the method used to attract.
attract in
The campaign attracted interest in local history.
In belongs to the noun interest, not directly to attract.
attract towards
Not standard: The design attracts towards young users.
Towards is not normally used directly after attract.
attract for
Not standard: The park attracts for its scenery.
For is not an idiomatic complement after attract.
Common mistakes
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Adding an unnecessary preposition
Attract usually takes a direct object.
✕ The beach attracts to tourists. ✓ The beach attracts tourists.Using towards directly after attract
Use attracted to for feelings or attraction.
✕ She attracts towards creative people. ✓ She is attracted to creative people.Quick practice
Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
1. The museum attracts ___ every summer.
2. He is attracted ___ modern architecture.
3. The company attracts customers ___ offering discounts.
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Frequently asked questions
Do we say attract to?
Usually no with the verb attract. Use attracted to in adjective form instead.
Can attract be followed by by?
Yes, when by introduces the method, as in attract customers by advertising online.
What is the difference between attract and attracted to?
Attract is a verb causing interest. Attracted to describes a person's feeling of interest or appeal.
Related preposition guides
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