enthralled
Americanadjective
-
captivated or charmed.
When I watched Star Wars for the first time as a child, I was absolutely enthralled and enraptured.
-
held in slavery or subjection to some person, group, or thing; subjugated.
I am unsettled by a world where entertainment is only given by someone else and you must be enthralled to it.
verb
Etymology
Origin of enthralled
Explanation
You are enthralled when filled with delight and wonder at something, to the point where time seems to stand still. Creators of day time soap operas count on viewers being enthralled to make their money. There's a transporting quality to the act of being enthralled, as though you have been, quite literally, whisked away. This is not surprising, given the origin of the word, which comes from two Latin words, en, "to make" or "put in," and thrall, "to hold in mental or moral bondage." So the next time a movie or book (or daytime soap) enthralls you, remember you are indeed being kidnapped in some way.
Vocabulary lists containing enthralled
Death of a Salesman
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myPerspectives 9.1
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"The Witches" by Roald Dahl, Chapters 1–5
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Enthralled, I personally commissioned David Stockman, Ronald Reagan’s own legendary budget cutter, to map out how it could be done.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 25, 2025
Enthralled, Elio plops a colander on his head and pleads for aliens to touch down and “take me with you — but not in a desperate way.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2025
Enthralled, Sharma turned his own backyard into a miniforest, started a planting company called Afforestt and, in 2014, delivered a TED Talk that, along with a 2016 follow-up, ended up drawing millions of views.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 25, 2023
Enthralled with American-style music, Madadian knew he wanted to move to the US.
From The Guardian • Jan. 16, 2020
Enthralled, though only half comprehending, Marie de' Medici listened as he poured forth in impassioned improvisation lines which from that day to this no one who has ever loved has heard untouched.
From Romance of Roman Villas (The Renaissance) by Champney, Elizabeth W. (Elizabeth Williams)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
