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 couple’s whirlwind romance had captivated fans since their reunion in 2021, following their initial engagement back in the early 2000s. Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 20 Oct. 2024 From the recent golden era of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, a rivalry that captivated the sports world, to the new generation of emerging superstars including the likes of Endrick, Lamine Yamal and the Brazilian who is being tipped for Ballon d’Or glory: Vinicius Junior. Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 Samara Cyn – ‘The Ride Home’ Samara Cyn captivates with a unique blend of R&B and hip hop, crafting an intimate soundtrack for late-night reflections. Okla Jones, Essence, 25 Oct. 2024 Curious visitors will be captivated by a working doorbell, glowing porchlight, shape sorter flowerbox, and drop-through rain spout. Pamela Brill, Parents, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for captivate 

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 31 Oct. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!