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

That actress got married on Saturday, March 29 PEOPLE has confirmed, on a secluded coastal estate with acres of enchanting woodlands and an Edwardian castle. —Shania Russell, EW.com, 30 Mar. 2025

This can also affect your communication abilities, granting you more inspiration and eloquence to enchant others through your writing or speech. —Kyle Thomas, People.com, 30 Mar. 2025

It’s indeed become one of the world’s top destinations, enchanting troves of visitors year after year with its picturesque beaches and lush nature, vibrant culture and leisurely atmosphere, and relative affordability for a lifestyle of luxury. —Chad De Guzman, Time, 28 Mar. 2025

Louise Ganley, owner of the three horses, never expected that their nightly routine on her Irish farm would enchant millions of TikTok users around the globe. —Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025

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

Rhymes for enchant

• decant
• descant
• eggplant
• explant
• implant
• preplant
• recant
• replant
• secant
• supplant
• transplant
• ant

Kids Definition

enchant

verb

en·​chant in-ˈchant 

1

: to influence by charms and magic : bewitch

2

: thrill entry 1 sense 1, fascinate