spellbind

verb

spell·​bind ˈspel-ˌbīnd 

spellbound ˈspel-ˌbau̇nd  ; spellbinding

transitive verb

: to bind or hold by or as if by a spell

Synonyms

• fascinate
• enchant

Examples of spellbind in a Sentence

the tale about pirates and their buried treasure had completely spellbound the children

Recent Examples on the Web

Halle Berry Video: Getty Images As one of the official jury members of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, Berry was bound to deliver a plentiful array of spellbinding fashions. —Christian Allaire, Vogue, 25 May 2025

One vaguely remembers being spellbound by a feature about blind people surviving a plane crash and making their way down a mountain. —Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 19 May 2025

Brook Lopez packed his bags and headed west, signing with the Los Angeles Clippers and ending his spellbinding six-year run in Milwaukee. —Brian Sampson, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

Later this week: Two additional Sly & the Family Stone No. 1s take the group into darker and murkier territory, with similarly spellbinding results. —Paul Grein, Billboard, 11 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from spellbound

First Known Use

1808, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for spellbind

• aligned
• alined
• assigned
• behind
• combined
• confined
• consigned
• declined
• defined
• designed
• divined
• enshrined

Kids Definition

spellbind

verb

spell·​bind ˈspel-ˌbīnd 

spellbound -ˌbau̇nd  ; spellbinding

: to hold by or as if by a spell : fascinate