enthralled

American  

[en-thrawld] / ɛnˈθrɔld /

Rarely inthralled

adjective

1. captivated or charmed.

   When I watched Star Wars for the first time as a child, I was absolutely enthralled and enraptured.

2. 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.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of enthrall.

Etymology

Origin of enthralled

enthrall ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

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.

Example Sentences

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

When we read “The White Album,” the class is fascinated by Didion’s renovations of form and enthralled by her proximity to the Manson Family.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 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

But the sensibilities of corset-and-bustle dramas have vastly changed since the first “Forsyte Saga” enthralled 18 million U.K. viewers nearly 60 years ago.

From Salon • Mar. 28, 2026

He was equally enthralled by Lawrence’s innovative Journal Club, that weekly free-form exchange of scientific data and news for graduate students, physics faculty, and the occasional visiting eminences that Oppie called Lawrence’s “other great invention.”

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• absorbed
• aroused
• delighted
• enamored
• enchanted
• excited
• intoxicated
• mesmerized
• thrilled