charm
1 Americannoun
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a power of pleasing or attracting, as through personality or beauty: the charm of a mountain lake.
charm of manner;
the charm of a mountain lake.
- Synonyms:
- allurement, attractiveness
-
a trait or feature imparting this power.
-
charms, attractiveness.
-
a trinket to be worn on a bracelet, necklace, etc.
- Synonyms:
- bauble
-
something worn or carried on one's person for its supposed magical effect; amulet.
- Synonyms:
- talisman
-
any action supposed to have magical power.
- Synonyms:
- spell, enchantment
-
the chanting or recitation of a magic verse or formula.
-
a verse or formula credited with magical power.
- Synonyms:
- spell
-
Physics. a quantum number assigned the value +1 for one kind of quark, −1 for its antiquark, and 0 for all other quarks. C
verb (used with object)
-
charms,
present (3rd person singular)
-
charmed,
past participle, past
-
charming
present participle
-
to delight or please greatly by beauty, attractiveness, etc.; enchant.
She charmed us with her grace.
-
to act upon (someone or something) with or as with a compelling or magical force.
to charm a bird from a tree.
-
to endow with or protect by supernatural powers.
-
to gain or influence through personal charm.
He charmed a raise out of his boss.
verb (used without object)
-
charms,
present (3rd person singular)
-
charmed,
past participle, past
-
charming
present participle
-
to be fascinating or pleasing.
-
to use charms.
-
to act as a charm.
noun
noun
noun
-
the quality of pleasing, fascinating, or attracting people
-
a pleasing or attractive feature
-
a small object worn or kept for supposed magical powers of protection; amulet; talisman
-
a trinket worn on a bracelet
-
a magic spell; enchantment
-
a formula or action used in casting such a spell
-
physics an internal quantum number of certain elementary particles, used to explain some scattering experiments
-
perfectly; successfully
verb
-
to attract or fascinate; delight greatly
-
to cast a magic spell on
-
to protect, influence, or heal, supposedly by magic
-
(tr) to influence or obtain by personal charm
he charmed them into believing him
-
One of the flavors of quarks, contributing to the charm number—a quantum number—for hadrons.
-
A charmed particle is a particle that contains at least one charmed quark or charmed antiquark. The charmed quark was hypothesized to account for the longevity of the J/psi particle and to explain differences in the behavior of leptons and hadrons.
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See more at flavor
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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charmsimple
-
charmssimple
-
have charmedperfect
-
has charmedperfect
-
am charmingprogressive
-
are charmingprogressive
-
is charmingprogressive
-
have been charmingperfect progressive
-
has been charmingperfect progressive
Past
-
charmedsimple
-
had charmedperfect
-
was charmingprogressive
-
were charmingprogressive
-
had been charmingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of charm1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English charme “magical verse or incantation,” from Old French, from Latin carmen “song, magical formula,” from unattested canmen (by dissimilation), equivalent to can(ere) “to sing” + -men noun suffix
Origin of charm2
First recorded in 1520–30 as cherme, dialect variant of chirm “noise, din,” perhaps associated with charm 1 ( def. ) (in the sense “chanting of a magic verse”)
Explanation
A charm is a magical spell or an object that brings luck: it's also a quality of being attractive and pleasing. To charm someone is to attract them. There are several types of charms, but they mostly relate to attraction and good luck. A lucky coin is a charm. The spell of a witch that entrances you is a charm. People with magnetic personalities, who make you want to hang out with them, have charm and are therefore considered charming. Also, to charm someone is to attract them and win them over. Popular politicians charm the masses, and teachers' pets charm their teachers.
Vocabulary lists containing charm
The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 3
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The New SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The ACT Reading Test: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 8
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
Upon entering the home, guests are greeted with classic Hamptons charm and modern luxury, offering vaulted ceilings, five fireplaces, a sunken living room, formal dining room, and an expansive chef’s kitchen designed for entertaining.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026
A midcentury-style home near Lake Tahoe lost its charm to a bad reno.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026
He loves challenges and says he learned that charisma and charm are valuable assets to get in the door to prove one’s talents.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
"Friday nights meant Kelly on the telly. I grew up watching him interview some of the biggest names but still being just like one of yer da's mates, he had such down to earth charm."
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
He was a tall, gangly, intense, quarrelsome teenager, a quixotic chess prince who exhibited occasional flashes of charm and grace.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
The point was never to become less susceptible to the market’s charms.
From Salon ● Aug. 4, 2026
How to get the look: Who, What, Wear, external says think about accessories - scarfs, crochet beanie caps or eye-catching hair clips, charms or cuffs.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
Victorian-era charms include brownstones, cast-iron storefronts and dozens of Tiffany stained-glass windows in churches.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
The blush of first love inside the glow of new friendship is where “Girls Like Girls” works its easygoing charms, but also an affecting sadness.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
I try to calm myself down by touching my charms: star, Union Jack, teacup, TARDIS.
From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
I would wander in with my perfectly sized tote, allow whatever charmed me to determine dinner and wait for the ingredients to organize themselves.
From Salon ● Aug. 4, 2026
Josh Grisetti, the Broadway actor who charmed audiences with roles in “Something Rotten!” and TV’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” has died, a family member confirmed to The Times on Monday.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
He charmed investors with his sense of humor.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026
There isn't a cop in the city who hasn't been charmed by them, nor a local business that hasn't benefitted hugely from the Tartan Army dollar.
From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026
Apparently when Mahmoud had gone up to the roof, the birds had flocked to him, alighting on his shoulders and arms, and he was so charmed that he couldn’t send them away.
From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers
Likable and charming are among the immediate impressions Chandler makes during a morning interview in West Hollywood earlier this month.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
The build also has an attractive, built-in banquette in the living room, a front deck, and charming outdoor seating areas.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026
The president, played by Jeff Daniels, emerges as focused, canny, charming and witty in this fond portrayal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
The head of the AMC cinema chain, Adam Aron, posted on X and then deleted a message describing the couple's vows as "long, entertaining, personal, charming, emotional, irreverent and endearing."
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
She sounded as careless and charming as if she had just run into an old friend at the theater.
From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood
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.
