charm

1 of 2

noun

ˈchärm 

1

a

: the chanting or reciting of a magic spell : incantation

b

: a practice or expression believed to have magic power

2

: something worn about the person to ward off evil or ensure good fortune : amulet

wore a rabbit's foot as a good-luck charm

3

a

: a trait that fascinates, allures, or delights

the charm of this imaginative story

b

: a physical grace (see grace entry 1 sense 3) or attraction

—used in plural

her feminine charms

c

: compelling attractiveness

the island possessed great charm

4

: a small ornament worn on a bracelet or chain

Her sister presented her with a sterling silver charm for her bracelet.

5

: a fundamental quark that has an electric charge of +²/₃ and a measured energy of approximately 1.5 GeV

also : the flavor characterizing this particle

charmless

ˈchärm-ləs 

adjective

charm

2 of 2

verb

charmed; charming; charms

transitive verb

1

a

: to affect by or as if by magic : compel

b

: to please, soothe, or delight by compelling attraction

charms customers with his suave manner

2

: to endow with or as if with supernatural powers by means of charms

also : to protect by or as if by spells, charms, or supernatural influences

3

: to control (an animal) typically by charms (such as the playing of music)

charm a snake

intransitive verb

1

: to practice magic and enchantment

witches having the power to charm

2

: to have the effect of a charm : fascinate

The village charms by its quaintness.

charmer

ˈchär-mər 

noun

Synonyms

Noun

• amulet
• fetish
• fetich
• mascot
• mojo
• periapt
• phylactery
• talisman

Verb

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

Choose the Right Synonym for charm

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 charm in a Sentence

Noun

He keeps a horseshoe as a good luck charm.

He fell under the spell of her charms.

The resort has many charms.

The inn has a quaint charm.

The island possesses great charm.

The new curtains add charm to the room.

The seaside location is a big part of the house's charm.

He won her over with his charm.

Verb

The snake was charmed by the music.

He was known for his ability to charm voters.

He charmed the committee into approving his proposal.

I was charmed by the cozy country inn.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The pilot of this new Good Times is coarse and generally unpleasant and, despite almost non-stop referencing of the original series, exhibits exactly none of the charm and warmth that defined Good Times. —Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Apr. 2024

The outbuildings, including a caretaker’s lodge, offer an element of historic charm as well that continues indoors. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2024

To get a sense of its charm, join a walking tour run by the Castine Historical Society, typically held on Friday, Saturday, and Monday mornings between late June and mid-October. —Erinne Magee, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2024

This canvas and leather bucket bag has a front leather lettering logo, adjustable leather handle, a linen lining, gold-tone hardware and leather drawstring closure — all adding to the bag’s charm. —Marques Harper, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024

Give a little extra, network, use your charm and be willing to go over and above the call of duty. —Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024

Franklin was a unique combination of charm, wiliness and canniness. —Leo Barraclough, Variety, 7 Apr. 2024

The exchange demonstrated Andrew’s charm, but also his confidence in his charm—which has had little reason to dwindle through the decades, even as his once fresh good looks have been etched over with the marks of age and decadence. —Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2024

Jami, 51, is hoping that the third time's the charm, as she has been married — and gotten divorced — twice before. —Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024

Verb

Overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Franklin charmed a foreign nation, convinced an absolute monarch to fund a war for liberty, held off his own bitter countrymen (like John Adams), and forged a defensive pact that brought France (and most importantly their navy) into the war. —Craig Bruce Smith, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024

Be charm itself on the 19th whilst the 23rd is for greater intimacy. —Debbie Frank, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024

Such is the power of jewelry—not just to charm but on occasion to send a secret message of freedom and joy. —Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, 15 Mar. 2024

Still, it’s got enough panache (to use Dick’s favorite word) to charm viewers for a little while — if not necessarily to keep them invested for the long haul. —Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2024

Readers who relish talk of food and wine mixed with their mystery will be charmed. —Karen MacPherson, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2024

In the comments section, Barrymore fans were completely charmed by the star's surprisingly normal abode. —Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 21 Mar. 2024

The fact that Norma’s fallen into a coma, and can’t be charmed (or conned) by Maxine any further, doesn’t help either. —Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2024

Once charmed by Queen of Sheba’s commitment to promoting their culture through food, Ethiopians had mostly stopped patronizing the restaurant. —Ayen Deng Bior, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English charme "verse used in incantation, magic spell, the power of such a spell, magic," borrowed from Anglo-French, "magic spell" (also continental Old French), going back to Latin carmin-, carmen "ritual utterance, magical chant, spell, song, poem," dissimilated from *can-men-, from canere "to sing, chant" + -men, resultative noun suffix — more at chant entry 1

Note: P. Fouché regards charme as a learned word rather than a direct continuation of *carmine (Phonétique historique du français, vol. 3 [Paris, 1966], p. 828).

Verb

Middle English charmen "to recite or cast a magic spell, cast a spell on," borrowed from Anglo-French charmer, derivative of charme "magic spell, charm entry 1"

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing charm

• the third time is the charm
• work like a charm

Kids Definition

charm

1 of 2 noun

ˈchärm 

1

: a word, action, or thing believed to have magic power

2

: something worn to keep away evil and bring good luck

3

: a small ornament worn on a chain or bracelet

4

: a quality that attracts and pleases

charm

2 of 2 verb

1

: to affect or influence by or as if by a magic spell

charm a snake

2

: to protect by or as if by a charm

a charmed life

3

a

: delight entry 2 sense 2, fascinate

b

: to attract by grace or beauty

charmer noun

Etymology

Noun

Middle English charme "magic word," from early French charme (same meaning), from Latin carmen "song," from canere "to sing" — related to chant, chantey