captivate

1 of 2

verb

cap·​ti·​vate ˈkap-tə-ˌvāt 

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

ˌkap-tə-ˈvā-shən 

noun

captivator

ˈkap-tə-ˌvā-tər 

noun

captivation

2 of 2

noun

cap·​ti·​va·​tion ˌkap-tə-ˈvā-shən 

plural -s

1

: act of captivating

2

: state of being captivated

Synonyms of captivate

Verb

• fascinate
• entice
• charm
• delight
• seduce

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

Verb

The play has been captivating audiences for years.

the clown captivated the toddlers with his balloon tricks

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

You'll be captivated by the details around every corner. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 6 June 2026

Adapted from Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved books, this series captivated viewers with over 200 episodes over nine seasons, plus three TV movies. —Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026

Their large nest in Big Bear Valley east of Los Angeles is livestreamed 24 hours a day by nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) and has captivated millions. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 4 June 2026

California's crowded 2026 gubernatorial race captivated the nation as the state's jungle primary system left many wondering which candidates would appear on the November ballot — a question many are still asking the morning after the primary. —Noe Padilla, USA Today, 3 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

see captive entry 1

Noun

Late Latin captivation-, captivatio, from captivatus + Latin -ion-, -io -ion

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1555, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for captivate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Kids Definition

captivate

verb

cap·​ti·​vate ˈkap-tə-ˌvāt 

captivated; captivating

: to influence or fascinate by some special charm

captivation

ˌkap-tə-ˈvā-shən 

noun