enthralling
Britishadjective
Explanation
Something enthralling is fascinating — you become completely absorbed in it. An enthralling book is hard to put down, even when it's past your bedtime. When things captivate or grip you, they're enthralling. You can find another person enthralling, or a well-made movie, a wonderful concert, or an entrancing painting in a museum. Enthralling comes from the verb enthrall, which means "capture one's attention," but had the original meaning of "enslave." The word comes from the prefix en-, "make or put in," and thrall, from the Old English þræl, "serf or slave."
Vocabulary lists containing enthralling
Pay Attention! Synonyms for "Interesting"
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Words to Describe a Novel or a Story
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"The Picture of Dorian Gray," Vocabulary from Preface-Chapter 4
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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.
Knoll has written romantic scenes before, but “Helpless” needed to be enthralling and economic enough not to get her kicked off of Target’s bookshelves.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
Vozinha's mother was not able to attend the Spain match because of the high cost of obtaining a visa to enter the USA but she was present in Miami, and treated to an enthralling display.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
O'Sullivan and Higgins, who are both 50, play the final session of an enthralling match from 13:00 BST on Monday, live on BBC Two.
From BBC ● Apr. 26, 2026
On stage, Cameron Winter leads an overall enthralling performance, as the group slams out songs back-to-back with little to say in between; no shenanigans, just a top-notch show.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 9, 2026
He holds my gaze as if he can smell my fear, a cobra enthralling its prey.
From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir
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.
