captivating

[kap-tuh-vey-ting]

adjective

1. attracting and holding the attention or interest, as by beauty or excellence; enchanting

   The newly fallen snow turns our real-life world of brown grass and gray skies into a captivating fairyland.

Other Word Forms

• captivatingly adverb
• uncaptivating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of captivating¹

First recorded in 1670–80; captivat(e) ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Then again, you certainly don’t have to be a deeply invested cinephile to fall hard for this yarn, because the performances and visuals are captivating in themselves.

From Salon

So what Wyle does on “The Pitt” is almost revolutionary, fashioning a captivating character who makes you want to do better.

From Los Angeles Times

The captivating exhibition “The Kingdom of Pylos: Warrior-Princes of Ancient Greece” at the Getty Villa is the first since January’s devastating Palisades fire shuttered the place for more than five months.

From Los Angeles Times

The Buffalo Bills produced a captivating comeback to stun the Baltimore Ravens on an epic opening Sunday of the new NFL season.

From BBC

The captivating display was visible in its totality in several countries around world.

From BBC

Related Words

• absorbing 
• affecting 
• charming 
• compelling 
• delightful 
• diverting 
• engaging 
• engrossing 
• enjoyable 
• enticing 
• exciting 
• fascinating 
• fun 
• funny 
• humorous 
• impressive 
• inspiring www.thesaurus.com
• interesting 
• lively 
• moving