captivate

verb cap·ti·vate \ ˈkap-tə-ˌvāt \

|Updated on: 15 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: captivate in a Sentence

Definition of captivate

captivated; captivating

transitive verb

1 archaic : seize, capture

2 : 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.

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captivation

play \ˌkap-tə-ˈvā-shən\ noun

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captivator

play \ˈkap-tə-ˌvā-tər\ noun

See captivate defined for English-language learners

See captivate defined for kids

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 of captivate from the Web

Although the funky smells and flavors were unfamiliar to my palate at the time, the warmth of the restaurant’s staff and owner captivated me.

— jc gibbs, Smithsonian, "Meet The Devotees of the Growing Lao Food Movement in a New Video from Folklife," 31 May 2018
So continues the mystery of the human feet floating ashore in the Pacific Northwest, a phenomenon that has captivated residents, scientists and area law enforcement since 2007.

— amy b wang, The Seattle Times, "A 14th human foot – this one in a hiking boot – washes ashore in Canada," 14 May 2018
To think of him sweeping in and all the people being captivated by him.

— pamela keogh, Vanities, "“I’m Not Sure Any Bishops Could Fit into Them”: Touring the Met’s Catholic Fashions with Father James Martin," 8 May 2018
From bears and whales to bald eagles and moose, Alaska's animals have the power to captivate locals and visitors alike.

— bailey berg, Anchorage Daily News, "A primer on Alaska animals and where to see them (safely)," 2 May 2018
If a novel has to grab a reader with its first sentence, and a movie has to hold its audience from its opening scene, then perhaps a legacy game has to captivate players from the first turn.

— owen duffy, Ars Technica, "Charterstone: Hot new “legacy” boardgame takes time to find its way," 28 Apr. 2018
The president is said to have been captivated by his doctor's appearance in the White House briefing room, where, following Trump's physical, Jackson extolled Trump's fitness and cognitive acuity.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "Ronny Jackson withdraws as Trump's nominee to lead Veterans Affairs," 26 Apr. 2018
The New Yorker story describes an event at the Playboy mansion where McDougal realized Trump was captivated by her.

— beth reinhard, Washington Post, "Salacious new claims surface about a Trump affair and alleged coverup," 7 Mar. 2018
Lenny Dykstra did not get an invite to the Phillies’ scheduled June 10 tribute to the 1993 National League championship team that captivated the city from start to finish that season.

— bob brookover, Philly.com, "Phillies get another big out from Jorge Alfaro | Extra Innings," 24 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'captivate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of captivate

see ¹captive

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1555

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

captivate Synonyms

Synonyms

allure, beguile, bewitch, charm, enchant, fascinate, kill, magnetize, wile;

Near Antonyms

disgust, offend, repel, revolt;

annoy, displease, irk;

bore, tire, weary;

delight, gratify, please;

arrest, enrapture, enthrall (or enthral), entrance;

appeal (to), interest, intrigue;

beckon, court, invite, solicit, woo;

Synonym Discussion of 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.