attitude Hear it!

attitude Definition

at·ti·tude (at′ə to̵̅o̅d′, -tyo̵̅o̅d′)

noun

  1. the position or posture assumed by the body in connection with an action, feeling, mood, etc. to kneel in an attitude of prayer
  2. a manner of acting, feeling, or thinking that shows one's disposition, opinion, etc. a friendly attitude
  3. one's disposition, opinion, mental set, etc.
  4. Aeron. the position of an aircraft or spacecraft in relation to a given line or plane, as the horizon
  5. Ballet a position in which one leg is raised with the knee bent and the arms are extended
  6. Slang
    1. a quarrelsome or sullen disposition or temperament
    2. a posture or pose of being cocky, haughty, etc.

Etymology: Fr < It attitudine, attitude, aptness < LL aptitudo (gen. aptitudinis) < L aptus, apt

attitude Related Forms
at′·ti·tu′·di·nal (-to̵̅o̅d′'n əl, -tyo̵̅o̅d′-) adjective
attitude Idioms

strike an attitude

to assume a posture or pose, often an affected or theatrical one

attitude Synonyms

attitude

n.

  1. Posture

    pose, posture, stance, stand; see pose, position 5, posture.

  2. State of mind

    mood, opinion, idea about, viewpoint, point of view, standpoint, outlook, perspective, belief, air, demeanor, manner, condition of mind, habitual mode of regarding something, disposition of mind, state of feeling, mindset, manner of thinking, way of looking at things, position, reaction, bias, slant, set, leaning, proclivity, bent, inclination, propensity, cast, emotion, temper, temperament, sensibility, disposition, mental state, notion, philosophy, view, approach, stance, stand, orientation, nature, makeup, frame of mind, character.

strike an attitude

be theatrical, assume a posture or pose, be affected; see pose 2. See syn. study atposture.

attitude Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • adopt: William decided to protect his financial interests by adopting an attitude of humility.
  • relax: Fact six Tommy's more noted for his down-to-earth, relaxed attitude than his fashion sense.
  • prevail: It appears the prevailing attitude in South Australia, therefore, was to labor on regardless, and to let sleeping dogs lie.
  • patronize: There was without doubt a patronizing attitude to those clubs located on the chillier side of Birmingham.
  • foster: He didn't simply hope to foster public attitudes toward indigenous peoples that would be the basis for a multi-cultural society based on mutual respect.
  • change: They are planning a new campaign aimed at children to try to change attitudes toward violence in the home.

Adjective modifier

  • positive: Whatever happened to the ' positive attitude ' thing in the States?
  • negative: However some negative attitudes have also been reported in previous studies.
  • cavalier: Neither I nor the ABD has " a cavalier attitude " toward the Highway Code.
  • racist: It is well known just how widespread racist attitudes are within the police.
  • caring: We have a positive caring attitude and an open mind toward alternative therapies including hyperbaric oxygen, reflexology, aromatherapy and many others.
  • discriminatory: They were evidence of a discriminatory attitude, and a man would not have been treated in the same way.

Modifies a noun

  • survey: Indeed, opinion and attitude surveys tend to suggest the opposite.

Noun used with modifier

  • can-do: PHILEAS FOGG stands for something refreshing in business - a slightly maverick operation that chooses to take a can-do attitude.
  • consumer: We are meeting highly competitive markets with a consumer attitude which is leading to individual tastes and buying habits.
  • people's: Itâs peopleâs attitudes, and I was exactly the same before Adam got ill.

Possessives

  • can-do: Carol impressed the judges with her enthusiastic ' can-do ' attitude displayed during two team challenges.

Preposition: of

  • humility: William decided to protect his financial interests by adopting an attitude of humility.
  • superiority: Until recently, the Kandyan's attitude of aristocratic superiority toward the Low Country Sinhalese precluded marriage between them.
  • mind: The title ' Independent ' was chosen to indicate the philosophical attitude of mind held in common by its members.
attitude Quotes

Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don't like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that.

—Shankly, Bill (William)

The elitist attitude is basically suspicious of, and hostile to, themarket precisely becausethemarket issovulgarly democraticöone dollar, one vote.

—Krasna, Norman

She had once been a Catholic, but discovering that priests were infinitely more attentive when she was in process of losing or regaining faith in Mother Church, she maintained an enchantingly wavering attitude.

—Fitzgerald, F(rancis) Scott Key

  He who must search a haystack for a needle is likely to end up with the attitude that the needle is not worth the search.

—Jackson, Peter

OAttic shape! Fair attitude!

—Keats,John

The scientific attitude of mind involves a sweeping away of all other desires in the interest of the desire to know.

—Russell, Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl