noun

traction

TRAK-shuhn

noun

The grip a wheel, tyre, or foot has on a surface, preventing it from slipping.

"Snow tyres give much better traction in icy conditions."

Growing momentum, popularity, or support for an idea, product, or effort.

"The startup finally gained traction after a viral ad campaign."

A medical treatment that applies a steady pulling force to a limb or the spine.

"His broken leg was put in traction while it healed."

How to Use Traction

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishGrip on a surface, or (more loosely) growing momentum and support for something new.

Common pairings

gain traction lose traction put in traction

tractioned past tense, tractions plural, tractions singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Can you complete this real example?

Snow tyres give much better _____ in icy conditions.

From Latin tractus (past participle of trahere, "to pull") plus -io, forming a noun meaning "the act of pulling."

ion lion Zion Dion Sion union scion Orion Onion action minion bunion