Cool MateAttractive vs Looking good
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Attractive
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
Looking good
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: AttractiveMost common: Attractive
| Attractive | Looking good | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈtræktɪv/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈtræktɪv/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈlʊkɪŋ ɡʊd//🇺🇸 //ˈlʊkɪŋ ɡʊd// |
| Meaning | nice to look at or interesting | To appear attractive or stylish. |
| Example | She wore an attractive dress that caught everyone’s attention. | After the makeover, she was looking good and feeling confident. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, look, become, extremely, fairly, very, to, be, look, become, extremely, fairly, very, to, be, look, become, extremely, fairly, very, to | looking good today, you're looking good, always looking good, really looking good, feeling and looking good |
| Antonyms | unattractive, ugly, repulsive | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'attractive' to describe non-physical qualities too often., Confusing 'attractive' with 'attracting' when describing events., Using 'most attractive' instead of 'more attractive' when comparing two items. | Using it in a formal setting, like a job interview., Confusing it with 'looking well', which refers to health., Saying it when someone is clearly not trying to look good. |
| Usage notes | Use 'attractive' in neutral contexts, typically for describing people, places, or things. Avoid using it in overly formal situations, as it may seem too casual for professional descriptions. | Use in casual conversations to compliment someone's appearance. Avoid in formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Attractive vs Looking good
What's the difference between Attractive and Looking good?
Attractive: nice to look at or interesting Looking good: To appear attractive or stylish.
Which is more formal: Attractive and Looking good?
Attractive is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Attractive and Looking good?
Attractive is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Attractive: She wore an attractive dress that caught everyone’s attention. Looking good: After the makeover, she was looking good and feeling confident.
Can I use Attractive and Looking good interchangeably?
Not always. Attractive and Looking good are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.