enchant

verb

en·​chant in-ˈchant 

en-

enchanted; enchanting; enchants

transitive verb

1

: to influence by or as if by charms and incantation : bewitch

2

: to attract and move deeply : rouse to ecstatic admiration

the scene enchanted her to the point of tears

—Elinor Wylie

Synonyms

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

Choose the Right Synonym for enchant

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 enchant in a Sentence

The book has enchanted children for almost a century.

The beauty of the place enchants.

Recent Examples on the Web

Explore Danny Ocean Maria Becerra See latest videos, charts and news Day One: A Taste of Cuba with Vicky Bakery The festivities kicked off with the beloved Vicky Bakery, a cherished Cuban gem that has been enchanting taste buds since 1972. —Walaa Elsiddig, Billboard, 4 Nov. 2024

The dance of shadow and light of the handcrafted candleholders dreamed up by artist Pietro Ruffo will enchant, featuring illustrations of 30 Avenue Montaigne, La Colle Noire and a design inspired by the French royal gardens. —Celia Shatzman, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

Taylor Swift enchanted the more than 70,000 beglittered and sequined fans who filled Lucas Oil Stadium despite facing some minor technical difficulties. —Holly V. Hays, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Nov. 2024

In a sea of pop culture witches, few have enchanted the public quite like the Owen sisters in 1998’s Practical Magic. —Ivana Rihter, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French enchanter, from Latin incantare, from in- + cantare to sing — more at chant

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

enchant

verb

en·​chant in-ˈchant 

1

: to influence by charms and magic : bewitch

2

: thrill entry 1 sense 1, fascinate