captivated

adjective

cap·​ti·​vat·​ed ˈkap-tə-ˌvā-təd 

: having one's interest or attention held or captured by something or someone charming, beautiful, entertaining, etc.

The captivated audience oohed and aahed as colorful patterns emerged on an overhead screen …

—Jean Hennelly Keith

At dinner, Wayne keeps the conversation smooth, like a captivated courtier seeking Neil's mother's hand.

—David Leavitt

Examples of captivated in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Producers pitched their projects in front of a supportive and captivated audience, as is always the case with animation crowds. —Kevin Giraud, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026

The players were on one knee, captivated. —Chad Graff, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026

The 6-foot-1wing is fulfilling the promise of that captivated Schaefer in 2024. —Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 3 Feb. 2026

In a case that both captivated and horrified the nation, details surrounding the brutality of Kohberger’s crimes quickly spread throughout social media as the Idaho community braced for a headline-grabbing trial, set for the fall of 2025. —Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for captivated

• abdicated
• abrogated
• acclimated
• activated
• actuated
• adumbrated
• advocated
• aggravated
• aggregated
• agitated
• allocated
• alternated