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

Strangely, one of the show’s most captivating songs, “Pavane for a Dead Lizard,” is about a reptile that starved to death because of Victoria’s negligence.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Hulu’s ‘Murdaugh: Death in the Family’ and Peacock’s ‘Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy’ are based on notorious slayings that received reams of news coverage in their day, but each tells a captivating story.

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But we just wanted something that was just super captivating and just lures you in.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“I’ve seen Taylor do the exact same thing of setting goals for herself and exceeding the expectations and really captivating the world in that regard,” he said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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.

Read more on Salon

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