captivate

[kap-tuh-veyt]

verb (used with object)

captivated, captivating 

1. to attract and hold the attention or interest of, as by beauty or excellence; enchant.

   Her blue eyes and red hair captivated him.

   Synonyms: charm, bewitch, fascinate

2. Obsolete.,  to capture; subjugate.

   Synonyms: subdue

captivate

/ ˈkæptɪˌveɪt /

verb

1. to hold the attention of by fascinating; enchant

2. an obsolete word for capture

Other Word Forms

• captivation noun
• captivative adjective
• captivator noun
• uncaptivated adjective
• uncaptivative adjective
• captivatingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of captivate¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Late Latin captīvātus (past participle of captīvāre “to take captive”), equivalent to Latin captīv(us) captive + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of captivate¹

C16: from Late Latin captivāre, from captīvus _captive

Example Sentences

And their captivating performances demonstrate the wealth of on-screen talent hidden in all corners of the world.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A captivating study of the brand’s botanical roots, “Enchanting Gardens” is the most delightful of Dior books.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In a captivating slugfest on a fast and bouncy pitch in Perth, England were bundled out for 172, only to reduce Australia to 123-9.

Read more on BBC

FeatherSnap Seed Feeder -My wife recently became enchanted with birdwatching, mostly while hiking, but even our simple backyard feeder has her captivated.

Read more on Salon

Not only has it captivated toddlers and terrorised adults around the world, it laid the foundations for its creator Pinkfong to become a media business worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• beguile 
• bewitch 
• charm 
• dazzle 
• delight 
• enrapture 
• entertain 
• enthrall 
• fascinate 
• gratify 
• grip 
• hypnotize 
• infatuate 
• intrigue 
• mesmerize 
• please 
• seduce