captivated

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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

When The Swan first aired two decades ago, in 2004, the reality makeover show captivated viewers—and horrified critics. — Joan Kron, Allure, 28 Sep. 2026

The country became ever more captivated by the deepening mystery. — Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026

The 100-meter sprint in Beijing’s National Speed Skating Oval brought together the world’s fastest runners, hurtling along at breakneck speed to shrieks of excitement from a captivated crowd. — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026

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

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