captivate

First recorded in 1520–30; from Late Latin captīvātus (past participle of captīvāre “to take captive”), equivalent to Latin captīv(us) captive + -ātus -ate¹

OTHER WORDS FROM captivate

cap·ti·va·tion

[kap-tuh-vey-shuhn], /ˌkæp təˈveɪ ʃən/, nouncap·ti·va·tive, adjectivecap·ti·va·tor, nounun·cap·ti·vat·ed, adjective

un·cap·ti·va·tive, adjective

Words nearby captivate

captains of industry, captan, CAPTCHA, caption, captious, captivate, captivating, captive, captive audience, captive market, captivity

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use captivate in a sentence

That perspective captivated Williams, and over the last two decades she’s established many of its most far-reaching implications.
A Mathematician’s Unanticipated Journey Through the Physical World|Kevin Hartnett|December 16, 2020|Quanta Magazine
Biographies of scientific legends and lesser-known luminaries, tales of amazing animals and stories of exploration captivated Science News staff.
Our favorite books of 2020 covered climate change, Mars, the end of the universe and more|Science News Staff|December 13, 2020|Science News
Birding gives us an opportunity to be captivated and allow them to teach us things like patience and appreciation.
A concise guide to birding in your own backyard|Erin E. Williams|December 11, 2020|Washington Post
Through sheer force of will and a healthy dose of operating genius, Musk has built an electric-auto maker and battery manufacturer that is seemingly dragging an entire industry into the 21st century—and captivated investors around the world.
Elon Musk’s rocket ride|Andrew Nusca|December 2, 2020|Fortune

His rallies captivated a nation, and before that his reality TV show was a runaway hit.
Crystal Ball 2021: Predictions for the economy, politics, technology, and more|lbelanger225|December 1, 2020|Fortune
Even while Hitler and Mao still captivate the popular imagination, one of the great monsters of the 20th century recedes.
Why the World Cannot Forget Stalin|Paul Johnson|February 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Why did The Princess Bride captivate America in the year of Watergate?
American Dreams, 1973: The Princess Bride by William Goldman|Nathaniel Rich|August 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Her childlike delight in the world and occasional melancholic outbursts captivate Marcenat completely.
This Week’s Hot Reads: Nov. 26, 2012|Mythili Rao|November 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Whatever tells us of the yet unknown attraction can charm, interest, delight, and captivate us.
Urania|Camille Flammarion
"I am quite innocent of any intention to captivate," replied Fanny.
Frank Fairlegh|Frank E. Smedley
His speeches have a freedom and a rhythmical flow which captivate the hearer.
The Contemporary Review, January 1883|Various
The interests of a moment engross and captivate the passions, and kindle ardours which burn with incessant vigour.
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. I|Francis Augustus Cox
But there were added minor articles of use and fancy to please the youth or captivate the imagination of the women in the tribes.
Duffels|Edward Eggleston

British Dictionary definitions for captivate

captivate

/ (ˈkæptɪˌveɪt) /

verb (tr)

to hold the attention of by fascinating; enchant

an obsolete word for capture

Derived forms of captivate

captivatingly, adverbcaptivation, nouncaptivator, noun

Word Origin for captivate

C16: from Late Latin captivāre, from captīvus captive

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

captivate

OTHER WORDS FOR captivate

Origin of captivate

OTHER WORDS FROM captivate

Words nearby captivate

Words related to captivate

How to use captivate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for captivate

Derived forms of captivate

Word Origin for captivate