Attitude
/ˈæt.ɪ.tjuːd/ noun
Definition
1. The way you think and feel about something, which affects how you behave.
2. Confident, sometimes aggressive behaviour that shows you don't care what others think.
2. Confident, sometimes aggressive behaviour that shows you don't care what others think.
Context Alive
Your new colleague has been in the job for two weeks and already people have noticed something different about her. She doesn't complain when things go wrong, she volunteers for the tasks nobody wants, and when someone criticises her work she takes it on board without getting defensive. Her attitude is so refreshingly positive that it's starting to rub off on the rest of the team. People talk about talent and qualifications, but sometimes the thing that really makes the difference is simply attitude.
Meanings
2 meanings 1 Your Way of Thinking or Feeling (Noun) Very Common ▼
This meaning is about your mindset — how you approach life, people, or situations based on your beliefs and feelings. Imagine two people stuck in traffic — one is furious, honking the horn, shouting at other drivers, while the other puts on a podcast and accepts there's nothing they can do. Same situation, completely different attitudes. This is the mental approach that shapes how you react. You might say "her attitude towards work completely changed after the promotion" about someone whose mindset shifted, or someone could say "you need to change your attitude if you want things to improve". Or picture a student who fails an exam — one with a positive attitude sees it as a learning opportunity, while another with a negative one blames the teacher. The word captures the inner lens through which you see the world.
Vivid ExampleThe coach didn't pick the most talented player — he picked the one with the best attitude. While others complained about the early morning training sessions, this player arrived twenty minutes early, warmed up alone, and thanked the coach after every session. "Talent gets you noticed," the coach told the team, "but attitude is what gets you picked." That sentence stuck with every player in the room.
2 Bold, Confident Behaviour (Noun) Common ▼
This meaning is about showing bold, sometimes aggressive confidence — acting like you don't care what people think of you. Imagine a teenager who rolls their eyes at the teacher, talks back, and walks around as if the rules don't apply to them — their parents get called in because of their attitude. This is behaviour that shows defiance or strong self-expression. You might hear "don't give me attitude" from a parent warning a teenager to be more respectful, or someone could say "she walked in with so much attitude that everyone turned to look" about someone with a confident, powerful presence. Or think about a singer on stage who performs with swagger and boldness — that's performing with attitude. The word can be negative (rude) or positive (fierce, confident) depending on context.
Vivid ExampleThe eleven-year-old crossed her arms, tilted her head, and said, "I'm not doing it, and you can't make me." Her mother stood in the doorway, torn between admiring her daughter's confidence and being genuinely annoyed by the attitude. "Where does she get it from?" her husband asked from the sofa, and the look his wife gave him made it very clear the answer was standing right in the hallway.
Examples from the Street
He's got a great attitude — nothing seems to get him down.
He stays positive and resilient no matter what happens.
Lose the attitude — I'm just trying to help you.
Telling someone to stop being rude or defensive because the intention is good.
The teacher said his attitude in class has improved a lot this term.
His behaviour and approach to learning have gotten noticeably better.
Common Patterns
positive / negative attitude → an optimistic or pessimistic way of thinking
attitude towards / to something → how you feel or think about a specific thing
change your attitude → to shift your mindset or approach
have an attitude → to behave rudely or defiantly (informal)
attitude problem → consistently bad behaviour or mindset
attitude + towards / to + noun → "her attitude to money" — specifying the topic
with an attitude of + noun → "with an attitude of defiance" — describing the manner
have / show / display an attitude → verbs commonly paired with attitude
Collocations
5 collocationspositive attitude
an optimistic and constructive outlook
change your attitude
shift the way you think about something
bad attitude
a negative or uncooperative mindset
attitude towards
the way you feel or think about something
attitude problem
a habit of being difficult or uncooperative
Example Sentences
12 examples
1
Her positive attitude makes her a joy to work with, even on stressful days.
Olumlu tutumu, stresli günlerde bile onunla çalışmayı keyifli kılıyor.
2
If you go into the interview with that attitude, you won't get the job.
Mülakata bu tavırla girersen işi alamazsın.
3
His attitude towards exercise changed completely after his health scare.
Sağlık korkusunun ardından egzersize karşı tutumu tamamen değişti.
4
She walked into the room with such attitude that everyone stopped talking.
Odaya öyle bir özgüvenle girdi ki herkes konuşmayı kesti.
5
The manager spoke to him about his attitude after several complaints from colleagues.
Meslektaşlarından birkaç şikâyet geldikten sonra müdür onunla tutumu hakkında konuştu.
6
I don't mind if you make mistakes — it's your attitude that matters most.
Hata yapman umurumda değil — en çok önemli olan senin yaklaşımın.
7
Teenagers often develop a rebellious attitude as a way of asserting their independence.
Gençler genellikle bağımsızlıklarını göstermek için isyankâr bir tutum geliştirir.
8
The company's attitude to customer complaints has improved significantly this year.
Şirketin müşteri şikâyetlerine karşı tutumu bu yıl önemli ölçüde iyileşti.
9
Don't give me attitude — I'm your mother, not your classmate.
Bana laf yetiştirme — ben annenin, sınıf arkadaşın değil.
10
A good attitude can take you further than talent alone.
İyi bir tutum seni tek başına yetenekten daha ileriye taşıyabilir.
Learner Examples
★
The teacher praised the new student's attitude — she always asked questions, tried her best, and never complained about difficult exercises.
Öğretmen yeni öğrencinin tutumunu övdü — her zaman sorular soruyor, elinden gelenin en iyisini yapıyor ve zor alıştırmalardan şikâyet etmiyordu.
★
Changing your attitude towards making mistakes is one of the most important steps in learning a new language — mistakes are how you improve.
Hata yapmaya karşı tutumunuzu değiştirmek yeni bir dil öğrenmenin en önemli adımlarından biridir — hatalar gelişmenizin yoludur.
Phrasal Verbs & Idioms
2 items Idioms & Expressionscop an attitude — behave rudely or defiantly
He copped an attitude when the waiter asked him to wait.
attitude problem — consistently negative or hostile behavior
Her boss told her she had a serious attitude problem.
Synonyms & Antonyms
4 items
Synonymsmindset
way of thinking
outlook
how you see things
approach
how you deal with something
vibe
informal, the feeling you give off