definitions

captivate

[ kap-tuh-veyt ]
/ ˈkæp təˌveɪt /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR captivate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), cap·ti·vat·ed, cap·ti·vat·ing.

to attract and hold the attention or interest of, as by beauty or excellence; enchant: Her blue eyes and red hair captivated him.
Obsolete. to capture; subjugate.

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RELATED WORDS

grip, gratify, dazzle, bewitch, fascinate, enthrall, seduce, mesmerize, please, delight, hypnotize, beguile, entertain, charm, enrapture, intrigue, infatuate, entrance, lure, win

Nearby words

captan, captcha, caption, captious, captiously, captivate, captivating, captive, captive audience, captive market, captivity

Origin of captivate

1520–30; < Late Latin captīvātus (past participle of captīvāre to take captive), equivalent to Latin captīv(us) captive + -ātus -ate1

Related forms

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for captivate

British Dictionary definitions for captivate

captivate

/ (ˈkæptɪˌveɪt) /

verb (tr)

to hold the attention of by fascinating; enchant
an obsolete word for capture

Derived Forms

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