fascinate
verb
fas·ci·nate
ˈfa-sə-ˌnāt 
fascinated; fascinating
ˈfa-sə-ˌnā-tiŋ
ˈfas-ˌnā-tiŋ
1
a
: to command the interest of : allure
was fascinated by carnivals
The kids were fascinated with their new toy.
b
: to transfix (see transfix sense 1) and hold spellbound by an irresistible power
believed that the serpent could fascinate its prey
2
obsolete
: bewitch
: to be irresistibly attractive
the novel's flamboyant cover fascinates
Examples of fascinate in a Sentence
a question that fascinates both biologists and anthropologists
Her paintings never fail to fascinate.
Recent Examples on the Web
Case owned one of the few pianos in town, and the instrument greatly fascinated Powell.
—
Arkansas Online, 16 May 2026
The fawn-like icon, star of classics including Roman Holiday, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Sabrina, Two for the Road, Charade, Funny Face, and My Fair Lady, continues to fascinate even 33 years after her early death from a rare abdominal cancer.
—Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 15 May 2026
The idea of the ouroboros (a snake eating its tail) has always fascinated me.
—Peter Bogdanovich, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
One of her childhood best friends was also the daughter of an architect, Elizabeth MacKenzie, and Smulders was fascinated by her office, with its fabric swatches and miniature model homes.
—Juliet Izon, Architectural Digest, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for fascinate
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Arkansas Online, 16 May 2026
The fawn-like icon, star of classics including Roman Holiday, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Sabrina, Two for the Road, Charade, Funny Face, and My Fair Lady, continues to fascinate even 33 years after her early death from a rare abdominal cancer.
—Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 15 May 2026
The idea of the ouroboros (a snake eating its tail) has always fascinated me.
—Peter Bogdanovich, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
One of her childhood best friends was also the daughter of an architect, Elizabeth MacKenzie, and Smulders was fascinated by her office, with its fabric swatches and miniature model homes.
—Juliet Izon, Architectural Digest, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for fascinate
Cite this Entry
“Fascinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fascinate. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fascinate
verb
fas·ci·nate
ˈfas-ᵊn-ˌāt
fascinated; fascinating
1
: to grip the attention of especially so as to take away the power to move, act, or think for oneself
the belief that serpents can fascinate their prey
2
: to cause (someone) to be very interested in something or someone
fascination
noun
ˌfas-ᵊn-ˈā-shən
fascinator
noun
ˈfas-ᵊn-ˌāt-ər
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