Dictionary.com

captivate

[ kap-tuh-veyt ]
/ ˈkæp təˌveɪt /
Save This Word!
See synonyms for: captivate / captivated / captivates / captivating 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.
QUIZ
GOOSES. GEESES. I WANT THIS QUIZ ON PLURAL NOUNS!
Test how much you really know about regular and irregular plural nouns with this quiz.
Question 1 of 9
Which of the following nouns has an irregular plural form?
cactus
wallet
goat
party
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of captivate

First recorded in 1520–30; from Late Latin captīvātus (past participle of captīvāre “to take captive”), equivalent to Latin captīv(us) captive + -ātus -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM captivate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

Words related to captivate

beguile, bewitch, charm, dazzle, delight, enrapture, entertain, enthrall, fascinate, gratify, grip, hypnotize, infatuate, intrigue, mesmerize, please, seduce, allure, draw, enamour

How to use captivate in a sentence

  • His errand was to produce a deadly quarrel between the captive soul and the wicked one, its captivator.

    The Parables of Our Lord|William Arnot

  • She's a dressmaker by trade, she says; and a captivator of foolish young men by nature—don't go anigh her.

    All Sorts and Conditions of Men|Walter Besant

British Dictionary definitions for captivate

captivate
/ (ˈkæptɪˌveɪt) /
verb (tr)
to hold the attention of by fascinating; enchant
an obsolete word for capture

Derived forms of captivate

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
FEEDBACK