captivate

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

Synonyms

• allure
• beguile
• bewitch
• charm
• enchant
• fascinate
• kill
• magnetize
• wile
• witch [archaic]

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

Greenfield Village is opening for the season, offering a nostalgic journey into history; the Rackham Choir is set to perform a captivating concert, and the Detroit Mercy Theatre Company promises laughter with a comedy show. —Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press, 11 Apr. 2024

Before that, the rape trial of William Kennedy Smith captivated audiences. —Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024

Here's How the Kardashians — Including Kris Jenner — Are Connected to O.J. Simpson O.J.'s controversy captivated millions who watched from afar, but for Jenner, the murder of Nicole and the subsequent trial was deeply personal. —Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024

Since his debut in 2005, Messi’s career has captivated the global game at a global level. —Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2024

For 20 years, Art, Beats + Lyrics has captivated audiences nationwide by amplifying the voices of both renowned and emerging visual artists. —Okla Jones, Essence, 9 Apr. 2024

Solar eclipses have captivated or frightened humankind for millennia. —Geraldine Castro, WIRED, 6 Apr. 2024

Curran captivates as the mercurial sovereign, who veers between moments of lucidity and long stretches of what seems like madness, though it’s never identified as such. —Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024

Adapted from Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved books, this series captivated viewers with over 200 episodes over nine seasons, plus three TV movies. —Melissa Girimonte, Peoplemag, 30 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see captive entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1555, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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