captivate

verb

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

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.
The production marks the latest chapter for a story that has captivated audiences across multiple formats — from the page to the screen to now, for the first time, the theater. —Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026 In Budapest, Kaszas was captivated by two American TV shows. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026 Noah Whiteman, a professor of molecular and cell biology at UC Berkeley, hailed the paper for demystifying a symbiotic relationship that has captivated scientists. —Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026 That was, except for one half of the reason the NBA world has been captivated by the rivalry. —Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 8 Feb. 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

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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 15 Feb. 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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