spellbound

adjective

spell·​bound ˈspel-ˌbau̇nd 

: held by or as if by a spell

Synonyms of spellbound

• charmed
• enchanted
• magic
• magical

Examples of spellbound in a Sentence

The children were spellbound by the puppet show.

She's a storyteller that will hold you spellbound.

Recent Examples on the Web

Since the dawn of time, the romance of railways has seduced poets, spellbound novelists, and dealt directors the perfect hand for capturing fleeting friendships, illicit affairs, and all manner of crimes and capers. —Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Jan. 2026

The result was a strangely spellbound life. —Merve Emre, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025

The waxing and waning of the substorm conditions fuel auroras all night, keeping us spellbound for hours. —Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 17 Nov. 2025

Set in Salem, Massachusetts, the third season will dive deeper into the mythology of witchcraft, introduce new ‘spellbound’ families and feature some of the historical happenings of Salem, the infamous town of witch trials and folklore. —Denise Petski, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1785, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for spellbound

• abound
• aground
• around
• astound
• background
• campground
• clothbound
• confound
• earthbound
• eastbound
• expound
• fairground

Kids Definition

spellbound

adjective

spell·​bound ˈspel-ˈbau̇nd 

: held by or as if by a spell