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.
His book is an enthralling exploration of what it means to wear glasses, and “their place in popular culture.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
They'll come back for what will be an enthralling evening session.
From BBC • May 2, 2026
His absence in the Warriors’ last home game of the season also put a damper on what could have been another enthralling matchup between two of the league’s biggest stars.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026
Reopening after a high-profile expansion, the institution stages a sprawling and enthralling inaugural show that examines how technology shapes ideas of what it means to be human.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026
My eyes open wide as they consume me, the wonder of it so enthralling that I barely register the pain until it’s too late.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
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.
