captivate

verb

cap·​ti·​vate ˈkap-tə-ˌvāt How to pronounce captivate (audio)
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 noun
captivator noun
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There was plenty of automotive Americana showcased at The Bridge, from muscle cars to classic tourers, but one domestic stunner that captivated us was this 1956 Ford Thunderbird dressed in a striking Peacock blue. Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 16 Sep. 2025 Fitness icons like Richard Simmons, Jane Fonda and Arnold Schwarzenegger captivated audiences at home and in movie theaters. Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025 Many didn’t speak English, but something about Clay captivated them, especially the women. Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025 But these Commanders so far have little resemblance to the team that captivated the NFL last season. Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for captivate

Word History

Etymology

see captive entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1555, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of captivate was circa 1555

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Captivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captivate. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

captivate

verb
cap·​ti·​vate ˈkap-tə-ˌvāt How to pronounce captivate (audio)
captivated; captivating
: to influence or fascinate by some special charm
captivation noun

More from Merriam-Webster on captivate

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