captivated

1 of 2

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

captivated

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past tense and past participle of captivate

Examples of captivated in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The story explores the growing role of technology in children's lives as Bonnie becomes captivated by Lilypad, a smart tablet toy that leaves Woody, Buzz and their friends struggling to stay relevant. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026

The Manchester City striker shot to global fame during the World Cup as his humor and charm captivated audiences, and Norway’s national team reached the quarterfinals for the first time. — Stella Canino-Quiñones, Washington Post, 13 Aug. 2026

As the competitions unfolded, Rico found herself just as captivated as her daughter. — Kansas City Star, 2 Aug. 2026

The Secret History by Donna Tartt A group of gifted but isolated students at an elite New England college become captivated by their charismatic classics professor and his unconventional worldview. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 24 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for captivated

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