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

In this go-around in the genre that has captivated audiences since 1973’s The Exorcist, Crowe is joined by Ryan Simpkins as his character’s estranged daughter, who begins to suspect her father’s troubles are more sinister than a relapse into former addiction issues. —Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Apr. 2024

The mission of remaking Ukraine’s drone fleet has captivated Mr. Schmidt, the former chief executive of Google. —David E. Sanger, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2024

Gold’s rise to all-time highs above $2,400 an ounce this year has captivated global markets. —Bloomberg, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2024

The iconic flapper, who captivated audiences with her charm and electrifying presence, is making headlines this spring for several reasons, as her name also serves as the closing track title for Taylor Swift’s new album, The Tortured Poets Department. —Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Apr. 2024

Anthony's murder trial, like so many others of which Spitz was a part, captivated the nation. —Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 17 Apr. 2024

For instance, singles could cross paths with someone unique who captivates them. —Kyle Thomas, Peoplemag, 14 Apr. 2024

Greenfield Village is opening for the season, offering a nostalgic journey into history; the Rackham Choir is set to perform a captivating concert, and the Detroit Mercy Theatre Company promises laughter with a comedy show. —Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press, 11 Apr. 2024

Before that, the rape trial of William Kennedy Smith captivated audiences. —Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 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