Synonyms

fascinate

American

[fas-uh-neyt] / ˈfæs əˌneɪt /

verb (used with object)

to attract and hold attentively by a unique power, personal charm, unusual nature, or some other special quality; enthrall.

His natural vivacity fascinates and dominates his audience, leading them wherever he will.

Synonyms:

delight, charm, spellbind, enchant, bewitch
to arouse the interest or curiosity of.

As I learned about ancient Egyptian religion, I found elements that fascinated me.
to transfix or deprive of the power of resistance, as through terror.

The sight of the snake fascinated the rabbit.
Obsolete. to bewitch.
Obsolete. to cast under a spell by a look.

verb (used without object)

to capture the interest or hold the attention.

fascinate British

/ ˈfæsɪˌneɪt /

verb

to attract and delight by arousing interest or curiosity

his stories fascinated me for hours
to render motionless, as with a fixed stare or by arousing terror or awe
archaic to put under a spell

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

A person can be fascinated by or with another person or thing. It is correct to speak of someone's fascination with a person or thing; one can also say a person or thing has a fascination for someone

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of fascinate

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin fascinātus, past participle of fascināre “to bewitch, cast a spell on,” verbal derivative of fascinum “evil spell, bewitchment”

Explanation

Anything that sparks your interest or makes you wonder has the ability to fascinate. If you catch someone's interest, and then hold it, you fascinate them. Be careful. The word fascinate actually comes from Latin and French words meaning "witchcraft," and although these days fascinate is used under much tamer circumstances, there is some sense in the word that the person's appeal is not quite normal: there might be a spell-like quality to his or her charms. Thus, the word is often used to describe a new love. On the other hand, you might find the study of exotic beetles fascinating. To each his own.

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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.

And maybe that is the reason why Monroe continues to fascinate.

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026

In Italy, where she has no public role, Catherine seemed to fascinate people.

From BBC • May 14, 2026

But a large part of the philosopher’s enduring power to fascinate concerns the man himself.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 18, 2025

But the subject also appears to fascinate him.

From Barron's • Oct. 30, 2025

“The Times They Are A-Changin’” by Bob Dylan especially seemed to fascinate her.

From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023