1
: an object usually of leather or feathers attached to a long cord and used by a falconer to recall or exercise a hawk
2
a
: an inducement to pleasure or gain : enticement
the lure of adventure
the lure of her beauty
b
: appeal, attraction
may succumb to the lure of candy, sodas and other sweets—
Cheryl Jennings-Sauer
Cheryl Jennings-Sauer3
: a decoy for attracting animals to capture: such as
a
: artificial bait used for catching fish
b
: an often luminous (see luminous sense 1a) structure on the head of pediculate fishes that is used to attract prey
lured; luring
1
: to recall or exercise (a hawk) by means of a lure
2
: to draw with a hint of pleasure or gain : attract actively and strongly
Synonyms
Examples of lure in a Sentence
Noun
the promise of easy money is always the lure for some people to play the lottery
the fish simply didn't seem to like the lure I was using, so I didn't catch a thing
Verb
They lured the bear out of its den.
The suburbs are luring middle-class families away from the city.
The police lured him back to the scene of the crime.
Explorers were lured to the area by tales of a city of gold.
An attractive window display can help to lure shoppers into the store.
Recent Examples on the WebArchway Homes, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2024
They can be worked slowly and kept in the strike zone; crappie may still be sensitive to cold water and not willing to move too far or fast to chase a lure.
—Don Wirth, Field & Stream, 4 Apr. 2024
Europe’s green manufacturers face the lure of attractive US subsidies on the one hand and competition from cheap Chinese products on the other.
—John Ainger, Fortune Europe, 2 Apr. 2024
More than any single country, Guyana demonstrates the struggle between the consequences of climate change and the lure of the oil economy.
—Gaiutra Bahadur Keisha Scarville, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2024
Blinken has been trying to hammer out a plan to present to Israeli leaders that would trade the lure of normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia with Israel’s consent to a Palestinian state.
—Michael Birnbaum, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024
For vets, who face average student debts of over $188,000, the lure of better pay is strong.
—Sunny Nagpaul, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2024
The winning lure will be announced on Friday, March 29.
—Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 20 Mar. 2024
For many 22- to 27-year-olds, known as Generation Z, their average student debt of more than $20,000 and the lure of higher-paying Wall Street and Silicon Valley firms means the time and effort required to become a CPA doesn’t pencil out.
—Jo Constantz, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2024
Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2024
The firing comes at a crucial moment when the department is still struggling to improve security, lure back pre-pandemic customers and burnish its image ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games, which officials want to make car-free.
—Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
Both outlets want to lure younger crowds, who are the target of UFL productions that feature more video and audio access to players, coaches and officials, as well as, at least in ESPN’s case, constant updates about sports-betting opportunities.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 29 Mar. 2024
In an arrest warrant filed in Clark County District Court, police say the pair lured Rodgers to a secluded location under the guise of a prostitution deal.
—Cindy Von Quednow, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
Be sure to match line and lure to the rod’s ratings, which are listed at the base of the rod, to ensure top performance and prevent an uncomfortable day of fishing.
—Max Inchausti, Field & Stream, 28 Mar. 2024
Competition has only grown fiercer in recent months, as EV makers restart last summer’s price war and offer greater incentives and slash price tags to lure customers.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 27 Mar. 2024
Some media executives question whether the new venture can really lure young consumers and whether an unwieldy structure — one that is similar to the group that initially backed Hulu — can ultimately prevail.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 15 Mar. 2024
For years, venture capital could only grow, propelled by low interest rates that lured investors everywhere to take more risk.
—Erin Griffith, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024
Noun
The lure with Archway was selling as-is, and quickly.
—Archway Homes, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2024
They can be worked slowly and kept in the strike zone; crappie may still be sensitive to cold water and not willing to move too far or fast to chase a lure.
—Don Wirth, Field & Stream, 4 Apr. 2024
Europe’s green manufacturers face the lure of attractive US subsidies on the one hand and competition from cheap Chinese products on the other.
—John Ainger, Fortune Europe, 2 Apr. 2024
More than any single country, Guyana demonstrates the struggle between the consequences of climate change and the lure of the oil economy.
—Gaiutra Bahadur Keisha Scarville, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2024
Blinken has been trying to hammer out a plan to present to Israeli leaders that would trade the lure of normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia with Israel’s consent to a Palestinian state.
—Michael Birnbaum, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024
For vets, who face average student debts of over $188,000, the lure of better pay is strong.
—Sunny Nagpaul, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2024
The winning lure will be announced on Friday, March 29.
—Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 20 Mar. 2024
For many 22- to 27-year-olds, known as Generation Z, their average student debt of more than $20,000 and the lure of higher-paying Wall Street and Silicon Valley firms means the time and effort required to become a CPA doesn’t pencil out.
—Jo Constantz, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2024
Verb
What would lure a CFO working in traditional finance to the world of cryptocurrencies?
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2024
The firing comes at a crucial moment when the department is still struggling to improve security, lure back pre-pandemic customers and burnish its image ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games, which officials want to make car-free.
—Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
Both outlets want to lure younger crowds, who are the target of UFL productions that feature more video and audio access to players, coaches and officials, as well as, at least in ESPN’s case, constant updates about sports-betting opportunities.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 29 Mar. 2024
In an arrest warrant filed in Clark County District Court, police say the pair lured Rodgers to a secluded location under the guise of a prostitution deal.
—Cindy Von Quednow, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
Be sure to match line and lure to the rod’s ratings, which are listed at the base of the rod, to ensure top performance and prevent an uncomfortable day of fishing.
—Max Inchausti, Field & Stream, 28 Mar. 2024
Competition has only grown fiercer in recent months, as EV makers restart last summer’s price war and offer greater incentives and slash price tags to lure customers.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 27 Mar. 2024
Some media executives question whether the new venture can really lure young consumers and whether an unwieldy structure — one that is similar to the group that initially backed Hulu — can ultimately prevail.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 15 Mar. 2024
For years, venture capital could only grow, propelled by low interest rates that lured investors everywhere to take more risk.
—Erin Griffith, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lure.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English, from Anglo-French lure, leure, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle High German luoder bait; perhaps akin to Old English lathian to invite, Old High German ladōn
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of lure was
in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near lure
Cite this Entry
“Lure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lure. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
lure
1 of 2 noun1
a
: something that persuades one to perform an action for pleasure or gain : temptation
2
: a decoy for attracting animals to capture
especially
: an artificial bait used for catching fish
lure
2 of 2 verb
lured; luring
: to tempt or lead away by offering some pleasure or advantage : entice
More from Merriam-Webster on lure
Nglish: Translation of lure for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of lure for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lure
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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