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 When insightful lyrics and powerful vocals flow over captivating melody, the vibration demands full attention — a luxury rarely found in the busyness of daily life. Ebony Flake, Essence, 18 Mar. 2024 In every show, one’s eye is consistently drawn to her magnetic presence, demonstrating not only technical prowess but also a captivating artistry. Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2024 The captivating song begins as a soft ballad, harmoniously led by strings and vocals, and then evolves with electronic elements into a contemporary pop-style piece. Griselda Flores, Billboard, 15 Mar. 2024 He was captivated by the nature of coastal Mississippi and spent the rest of his life trying to capture it. Kayla Michelle Smith, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2024 Since 2019, The Masked Singer has captivated U.S. viewers and kept them guessing since. Francesca Gariano, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024 There he was captivated by the five-story pagoda symbolizing the elements of earth, water, fire, air and space. Robin Pogrebin, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 Swirling chaotic galaxies, violent volcanic moons, Martian eclipses and a historic moon landing have captivated humanity and served as a reminder of the majesty and mystery contained within the vast cosmos. Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2024 The Dragon Ball universe remains one of Japan’s most successful global hits, captivating the hearts of many manga-loving teens and adults from around the world since its debut in the 1980s. Mai Nishiyama, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024

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 29 Mar. 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

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