attribute
attribute — noun
1. a part of someone's or something's nature that helps describe what they are like
a part of someone's or something's nature that helps describe what they are like
Patience is one of Mei's best attributes in the classroom.
one of + possessive + best attributes
Speed and strong brakes are useful attributes in a mountain bike.
before noun: useful attributes
Honesty remained his strongest attribute during the police interview.
The job ad listed patience, clear speech, and other key attributes.
For many parents, kindness is the most important attribute in a teacher.
- quality
the broadest everyday word for a characteristic.
- trait
often used for a person's habitual or natural qualities.
- feature
often used for things, products, or visible parts.
- characteristic
slightly more formal and often used in descriptions.
文法句型
an attribute of somebody/something
a useful attribute
personal attributes
用法筆記
Often used for qualities that matter in work, study, leadership, or products. It is more formal than trait or quality and often appears in lists of strengths or features.
常見錯誤
attribute — verb
1. to judge that an event, result, or change happened because of a particular cause
to judge that an event, result, or change happened because of a particular cause
Doctors attributed Mia's fever to the dirty water at camp.
attribute + result + to cause
The coach attributed the loss to two late mistakes.
After the lights failed, neighbors attributed the fire to bad wiring.
Many fans attributed the singer's silence to stress after the tour.
The crack in the wall was first attributed to heavy rain.
- ascribe
very close in meaning but usually more formal.
- explain
broader and does not always take a cause after to.
- put down to
more informal and common in speech.
文法句型
attribute something to something
be attributed to something
用法筆記
Usually followed by to when naming the cause. Common with results, damage, illness, success, or change. Distinguish from sense 2, where you identify the person behind a work, remark, or act.
常見錯誤
2. to state or decide that a work, remark, idea, or action came from a particular p
to state or decide that a work, remark, idea, or action came from a particular person
The museum attributed the small portrait to a student of Rembrandt.
attribute a work to a person
Reporters attributed the angry message to a former staff member.
For years, the song was attributed to a blind street musician.
Police attributed the bomb threat to a sixteen-year-old boy.
That line in the letter is often attributed to Queen Victoria.
文法句型
attribute something to somebody
be attributed to somebody
用法筆記
Frequently used when people discuss authorship, responsibility, or origin, especially in art, history, journalism, and police reports. Distinguish from sense 1: here the noun after to is the person or group behind something, not the cause of it.
常見錯誤
3. to think someone or something has a particular quality, power, or feature
to think someone or something has a particular quality, power, or feature
Some voters attribute wisdom to gray hair too quickly.
attribute a quality to appearance
Children often attribute feelings to dolls and stuffed bears.
common with human qualities
The coach attributed calm strength to his oldest defender.
Many customers attribute magical powers to the face cream.
During the interview, the panel attributed honesty to Ella's quiet voice.
文法句型
attribute a quality to somebody/something
attribute courage to somebody
attribute power to something
用法筆記
The object is usually an abstract quality such as courage, honesty, intelligence, or power. Distinguish from sense 2, which identifies who produced something, and from sense 1, which explains what caused something.