captivate

verb

cap·​ti·​vate ˈkap-tə-ˌvāt 

captivated; captivating

transitive verb

1

: to influence and dominate by some special charm, art, or trait and with an irresistible appeal

We were captivated by her beauty.

The scenery captivated our attention.

2

archaic : seize, capture

captivation

ˌkap-tə-ˈvā-shən 

noun

captivator

ˈkap-tə-ˌvā-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• allure
• beguile
• bewitch
• charm
• enchant
• fascinate
• kill
• magnetize
• wile
• witch [archaic]

Choose the Right Synonym for captivate

attract, allure, charm, captivate, fascinate, enchant mean to draw another by exerting a powerful influence.

attract applies to any degree or kind of ability to exert influence over another.

students attracted by the school's locale

allure implies an enticing by what is fair, pleasing, or seductive.

an alluring smile

charm implies the power of casting a spell over the person or thing affected and so compelling a response

charmed by their hospitality

, but it may, like captivate, suggest no more than evoking delight or admiration.

her performances captivated audiences

fascinate suggests a magical influence and tends to stress the ineffectiveness of attempts to resist.

a story that continues to fascinate children

enchant is perhaps the strongest of these terms in stressing the appeal of the agent and the degree of delight evoked in the subject.

hopelessly enchanted by her beauty

Examples of captivate in a Sentence

The play has been captivating audiences for years.

the clown captivated the toddlers with his balloon tricks

Recent Examples on the Web

Kenya has a way of captivating you — the mind-bending landscapes, curious wildlife, and breathtaking sunsets that are best savored in the still of the bush. —Venetia Martin, Travel + Leisure, 4 Nov. 2024

The roar of engines, the blur of cars speeding by, the palpable tension in the air — these are the hallmarks of motorsport that have captivated audiences for decades. —Brendan Keegan, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2024

Readers quickly became captivated by the mysterious story of Erica Slaughter, a hunter of monsters that only kids and teens can see. —Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Oct. 2024

The captivating mash-up of supernatural horror and human betrayal is deliberately paced, well acted all around, and enjoyably stark narratively and visually. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see captive entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1555, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

captivate

verb

cap·​ti·​vate ˈkap-tə-ˌvāt 

captivated; captivating

: to influence or fascinate by some special charm

captivation

ˌkap-tə-ˈvā-shən 

noun