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 The Dragon Ball universe remains one of Japan’s most successful global hits, captivating the hearts of many manga-loving teens and adults from around the world since its debut in the 1980s. Mai Nishiyama, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 Like the stone, Peridot is sleek and captivating with its modern design, and nods to Vietnam, the place where the gem is mined. Detroit Free Press, 6 Mar. 2024 Nonsensical, erratic and compelling, Elena winds up totally captivating Zuback. Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 2 Mar. 2024 Its first leap onto the international stage was in the 1920s, when American consumers were captivated by what those at the time viewed as an exaggeratedly exotic and cosmopolitan pursuit. Kinsey Gidicl, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2024 What ensues between these salacious bookends is, well, captivating. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 1 Mar. 2024 Don’t miss this captivating talk that aims to inspire change and tackle one of America’s critical challenges. David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Feb. 2024 American Love Story is set to explore romances that captivated the country, starting with a first season dedicated to JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2024 The flowers, butterflies, and birds captivated her imagination which was wonderful to watch. Ariel Okin, Vogue, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'captivate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near captivate

Cite this Entry

“Captivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captivate. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

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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