fascinated

[fas-uh-ney-tid]

adjective

1. having the attention attracted and held by a person or thing having unique power or charm, unusual character, etc.; enthralled or captivated.

   The nature trail guide opened one of the boxes to let the fascinated onlookers view two baby bluebirds inside.

2. strongly interested or intrigued by something.

   I'm speaking now not as a lawyer, just as a fascinated observer of mankind.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of fascinate.

Other Word Forms

• fascinatedly adverb
• half-fascinated adjective
• quasi-fascinated adjective
• unfascinated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fascinated¹

fascinate ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Thirty-one years later, Mr. Threadgill remains fascinated by the promise of such combinations.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

I’ve always been fascinated with apple bobbing, mainly because I wasn’t allowed to partake in it growing up.

Read more on Salon

Each day the audience was fascinated by the many rituals and traditions on display, from salt throwing to ring-entering ceremonies, and participated enthusiastically when prompted to shout at every yokozuna foot stomp.

Read more on BBC

When I got to know Lamborghini collectors, they were fascinated with my tractor.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The first, “Scanlines,” concerns German and American artists fascinated by the “electron beam that moved across the screen from left to right and top to bottom” to manifest an image.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• absorbed 
• aroused 
• delighted 
• enamored 
• enchanted 
• enthralled 
• excited 
• intoxicated 
• mesmerized 
• thrilled