enchant
Americanverb (used with object)
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enchants,
present (3rd person singular)
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enchanted,
past participle, past
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enchanting
present participle
verb
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to cast a spell on; bewitch
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to delight or captivate utterly; fascinate; charm
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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enchantsimple
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enchantssimple
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have enchantedperfect
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has enchantedperfect
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am enchantingprogressive
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are enchantingprogressive
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is enchantingprogressive
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have been enchantingperfect progressive
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has been enchantingperfect progressive
Past
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enchantedsimple
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had enchantedperfect
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was enchantingprogressive
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were enchantingprogressive
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had been enchantingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of enchant
1325–75; Middle English < Anglo-French, Middle French enchanter < Latin incantāre to put a spell on; see incantation
Explanation
To enchant is to cast a spell over someone, like a witch might do. It also means to attract or catch someone's attention in a less mystical way. Enchanting has a few meanings, but they all involve seduction. A witch or warlock enchants people they wish to influence through magic spells. A real person enchants in different ways: through jokes, good looks, and charisma. Not only people, but also engrossing songs or shows can be said "to enchant."
Vocabulary lists containing enchant
The Cricket in Times Square
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A Boy Called Bat
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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.
See Examples For:
“I Hear a New World” is more speculative fantasy than crime fiction, yet it has enough criminous content to enchant mystery readers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
Instead, throw yourself into the music, art and theater festivals that enchant the nation all summer long.
From Barron's ● Mar. 8, 2026
There’s still a lot of climbing, and the upper floors remain inaccessible for those who can’t make the jaunt, but the ground floor is likely the place that will enchant most guests.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2023
Disney bought Pixar in 2006 for $7.4 billion, and with it, Pixar’s ability to enchant audiences with pixels.
From Reuters ● Oct. 28, 2023
“Well, you can enchant a building so it’s impossible to plot on a map, can’t you?”
From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling
Mr. Coyne excels at chronicling the many different ways golf enchants its aficionados.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026
Friends of the Lake District's land manager, Jan Darrall, said the thought of a rainforest in Cumbria "enchants and inspires people".
From BBC ● Apr. 18, 2026
This time of year enchants with its warm, rustic hues and relaxing vibe.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 27, 2023
As an image of transformational loss ushering in new forms of beauty, the pair enchants.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2023
She loves to drink mango smoothies, try on hats, and buy whatever we want with acorns she enchants to pass as money.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
“An enchanted hideaway in a coveted location with inviting outdoor retreats and peek a boo views to Downtown Los Angeles create an idyllic setting,” the listing added.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026
At the core of “Land” is the sacred grove that enchanted Tomás and survives as a point “of confluence between our world and other worlds.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026
That doesn’t take away from the experiences they provide—movies have enchanted audiences for generations despite being only still photos.
From Slate ● May 25, 2026
By the end of the first episode, Samira is determined to stay in Hinkley Hills, warmed by new friends, enchanted by the fireflies and in love with the “sweet suburban air.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 7, 2026
She was not the lively Maggie Fox who had once enchanted the nation.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
This island becomes a recurring motif, to enchanting effect, as the film goes on.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
It’s an enchanting companion to a bewitching exhibition.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
Something enchanting might need to occur down there for Scotland to secure what they set out to do.
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026
An eerie, enchanting score by Rock Burwell gives the proceedings a dreamy, nightmarish quality.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2026
After their wedding, Farmer had brought Didi to Paris because he thought that, like him, she would find the city the most enchanting in the world, and a comfortable and exciting place to live.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
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.
