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The history of enthrall appeals far less than the word as we use it today might suggest. In Middle English, enthrallen meant “to deprive of privileges; to put in bondage.” Thrall then, as now, referred to bondage or slavery. An early figurative use of enthrall appeared in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream: “So is mine eye enthralled to thy shape.” But we rarely use even this sense of mental or moral control anymore. More often, the word simply suggests a state of being generally captivated or delighted by some particular thing. Enthrall is commonly found in its past participle form enthralled, which can mean “spellbound,” as in “we listened, enthralled, to the elder's oral history.”
Synonyms
Examples of enthrall in a Sentence
Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2023
But if the Spatial audio experience didn't enthrall you on previous occasions, Apple's test aims to standardize the effect for everyone through better sound localization.
—Joe Hindy, PCMAG, 18 Sep. 2023
This coming-of-age story will resonate with several teens, and the raw humor and engaging comics will enthrall them.
—L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Aug. 2023
Maybe, but more importantly, this is our time to celebrate a song so unabashedly rhythmic, danceable, and silly that it seems designed to enthrall the LGBTQ+ community.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 26 June 2023
Given those interests, the music of the ’80s continues to enthrall him.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 16 May 2023
This spine-chilling thriller enthralls viewers with its unexpected twists and palpable sense of dread.
—Travis Bean, Forbes, 6 May 2023
That’s because no AI can match a human’s wit, depth of knowledge, or ability to capture a phrase just right to enthrall the reader.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2023
But while this season is sure to enthrall fans longing for the dark satire to continue indefinitely, those expecting to see the show shift into a fresher, more dynamic mode for its last hurrah might be disappointed.
—Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 26 Mar. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'enthrall.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Middle English
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
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Dictionary Entries Near enthrall
Cite this Entry
“Enthrall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enthrall. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on enthrall
Nglish: Translation of enthrall for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of enthrall for Arabic Speakers
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