captivating

adjective

cap·​ti·​vat·​ing ˈkap-tə-ˌvā-tiŋ How to pronounce captivating (audio)
: charmingly or irresistibly appealing
a captivating aroma
It's an utterly exotic combination of flavors, and a completely captivating one.Howard Seftel
Books with captivating stories and bright, uncomplicated artwork will enchant the very young without being too demanding.Ed Zotti
A captivating storyteller, he conveys the cozy domesticity of the small-time growers as well as the Technicolor style of life of the big deal-makers.Alison Friesinger
captivatingly adverb
a captivatingly sweet voice
Each room is named for a month, and January through December are captivatingly filled with fanciful hearts, flowers, and vines that trail over the beds, chests, and wardrobes. Mimi Elder

Examples of captivating in a Sentence

a captivating performance by the young singing sensation
Recent Examples on the Web
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Not only has the film already received rave reviews ahead of its June 27 release for its deeply personal and captivating storyline and sublime cast and acting, but the independent film is also making history by being entirely self-financed and nationally distributed. Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025 Bloodroot’s co-founder Selma Miriam, who died in February at the age of 89, is a captivating presence in the film, talking about her feminist principles, her homeopathic health practice and her love of cooking and baking. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 15 June 2025 The filmmaker creates a seamless world that is captivating, thought-provoking, fresh and increasingly relevant. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 12 June 2025 And here’s what’s really, really frustrating about all of this: Up until that point, Thug Life is captivating. Anupama Chopra, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for captivating

Word History

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of captivating was in 1675

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Cite this Entry

“Captivating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captivating. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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