enthralled
Americanadjective
-
captivated or charmed.
When I watched Star Wars for the first time as a child, I was absolutely enthralled and enraptured.
-
held in slavery or subjection to some person, group, or thing; subjugated.
I am unsettled by a world where entertainment is only given by someone else and you must be enthralled to it.
verb
Etymology
Origin of enthralled
Explanation
You are enthralled when filled with delight and wonder at something, to the point where time seems to stand still. Creators of day time soap operas count on viewers being enthralled to make their money. There's a transporting quality to the act of being enthralled, as though you have been, quite literally, whisked away. This is not surprising, given the origin of the word, which comes from two Latin words, en, "to make" or "put in," and thrall, "to hold in mental or moral bondage." So the next time a movie or book (or daytime soap) enthralls you, remember you are indeed being kidnapped in some way.
Vocabulary lists containing enthralled
Death of a Salesman
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myPerspectives 9.1
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"The Witches" by Roald Dahl, Chapters 1–5
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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.
Robots sorting parcels and serving fried chicken enthralled visitors at a robotics expo in Beijing on Wednesday, where hundreds of companies set out their pitches for a future labour market transformed by artificial intelligence.
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
The enthralled crowd became increasingly vocal in support of both players as Rinderknech continued to grow in belief deep into the fourth set.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
He was enthralled by Helga Monson de Kansky.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026
Investors, according to experts, are really enthralled by SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk’s star power — or what’s been referred to as a “Musk premium” — and vision of the future.
From MarketWatch ● May 21, 2026
It enthralled him with its mystifying machinery; the rest of the world was still using candles and kerosene lamps.
From "The Reader" by Traci Chee
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.
