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attribute meaning and examples

2025-09-09

Meaning

Attribute has two main uses:

  1. Noun – a quality, feature, or characteristic of someone or something. Example: Patience is an important attribute of a good teacher.

  2. Verb – to say that something is caused by or belongs to someone or something. Example: She attributes her success to hard work.

Grammar and Usage

  • As a noun: attribute + of + noun (e.g., "an attribute of leadership").

  • As a verb: attribute + result + to + cause Example: "They attributed the mistake to a misunderstanding."

  • Verb form is transitive, usually followed by to.

Common Phrases

  • "personal attribute"
  • "human attribute"
  • "to attribute blame"
  • "to attribute success to"
  • "attributed to fate"

Collocations

  • Adjective + attribute: key attribute, unique attribute, essential attribute
  • Verb + attribute: recognize an attribute, value an attribute
  • Attribute + of: attribute of character, attribute of leadership

Examples

  1. Honesty is a valuable attribute in a friend.
  2. The scientist attributed the discovery to a lucky accident.
  3. Many people attribute climate change to human activity.
  4. Creativity is an attribute often sought in job candidates.
  5. The author attributes her inspiration to childhood experiences.
  6. Leadership attributes include confidence and decision-making skills.
  7. The painting was attributed to a famous artist.
  8. Patience is considered an attribute of wisdom.
  • Noun: quality, trait, feature, characteristic, property
  • Verb: credit, ascribe, assign, impute

Antonym

  • Noun: flaw, defect, weakness
  • Verb: deny, dismiss, disassociate