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

People have been captivated by games for millennia, and today the gaming market is about as big as all other forms of entertainment combined. —Kelly Clancy, Scientific American, 16 July 2024

Doherty rose to fame playing a slew of complicated characters in Heathers and Beverly Hills, 90210, a reputation painted as imitating real life as the actress captivated tabloid attention with rumors of high-profile feuds and a string of engagements and marriages. —Ale Russian, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2024

Still, Italy’s Lake Como and Amalfi Coast continue to captivate, with three winners on this year’s list, and Mykonos and Santorini remain the perpetual favorite Greek islands of readers, with resorts there claiming the fourth, ninth, and 14th positions. —Devorah Lev-Tov, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2024

In a viral video that has taken the internet by storm, a ginger kitten named Peach has captivated audiences worldwide with his unusual love for water. —Aron Solomon, Newsweek, 9 July 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