captivate

verb

cap·​ti·​vate ˈkap-tə-ˌvāt How to pronounce captivate (audio)
captivated; captivating
Synonyms of captivate

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 How to pronounce captivate (audio)
noun
captivator
ˈkap-tə-ˌvā-tər How to pronounce captivate (audio)
noun

Synonyms of captivate

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Despite sweltering heat, their meticulously choreographed one hour set on the Allianz stage, broadcast globally via the festival's Hulu/Disney+ livestream, captivated hundreds of fans waving Filipino flags. — Jim Ryan, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 But while the subjects of pleasure and open-mindedness captivate her, on screen Anderson is not letting the industry pigeonhole her. — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026 Long before the era of beauty influencers and celebrity brands, Grace Kelly captivated the world with a look that still feels remarkably fresh today. — Colleen Sullivan, InStyle, 6 Aug. 2026 The Australian model and influencer first rose to fame on Netflix’s Too Hot to Handle in 2020, where his whirlwind romance with Francesca Farago captivated audiences. — Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for captivate

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

Rhymes for captivate

See All Rhymes for captivate

Browse Nearby Words

captiously
captivate
captivated
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Cite this Entry

“Captivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captivate. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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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
ˌkap-tə-ˈvā-shən How to pronounce captivate (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on captivate

Nglish: Translation of captivate for Spanish Speakers

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