captivating
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of captivating
First recorded in 1670–80; captivat(e) ( def. ) + -ing 2 ( def. )
Explanation
The adjective captivating describes something that's completely enthralling and holds your attention. You might find a marathon of episodes of a TV show so captivating that you forget to eat dinner. When people are captivating, they're often very intelligent, attractive, charming, or otherwise fascinating. Something that catches and holds your interest is captivating, like a captivating mystery novel you just can't put down. In fact, this adjective comes from the Latin captivatus, "to take or capture," and early in its use, captivating had that literal meaning. Now it's only used to mean capturing interest.
Vocabulary lists containing captivating
A Doll's House
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Pay Attention! Synonyms for "Interesting"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Tale of Despereaux
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The hantavirus outbreak captivating the public began on the MV Hondius, an expedition-style cruise ship operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, a privately held Dutch company.
From MarketWatch • May 11, 2026
I'm not a huge fan of the chorus – a simple climb up the scale of C Minor – but Lund's simmering intensity is captivating.
From BBC • May 8, 2026
These recordings are most captivating not for the looks being modeled but as a reminder that flexible and DIY spaces that long served as incubators for boundary-pushing artistic experiments are quickly disappearing.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026
What a bounty of heart, wit and captivating stage presence from this Irish singer behind “Euro-Country,” one of the funniest and most wrenching albums of 2025.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
In spite of his diminutive stature he has a commanding, captivating presence in the room.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
