enthral
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
-
to hold spellbound; enchant; captivate
-
obsolete to hold as thrall; enslave
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of enthral
C16: from en- 1 + thrall
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:
As Super League's two most successful clubs, sharing 17 Grand Final wins between them, the showdown at Headingley between the fourth and fifth placed teams promised to enthral.
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2025
They also constantly tried to reinvent the revolution to enthral and entertain the masses.
From New York Times ● Dec. 22, 2017
"His extraordinary body of work has made him one of the most recognisable and best-loved stars of the big screen, whose films enthral and delight audiences across the globe."
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2014
We've seen Cumberbatch enthral before with fast-gab brilliance, but this is him simply acting with his face.
From The Guardian ● Aug. 25, 2012
For ye who deem that one who lacks of faith Is therefore conscience-free, ye little know How doubt and sad denial may enthral him To the most timid sanctity of life.
From Flowers of Freethought (Second Series) by G. W. (George William) Foote
She’s now ushering in the next generation of Trekkies, including her children and a 5-year-old niece, who she says became enthralled with “Strange New Worlds.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
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
While they all are eager to bring some kind of justice to the victims, they are also enthralled with the process of investigation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 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
She slid down beside him, and when his eyes checked her out sideways, she gave a quiet, sisterly kind of smile and pretended to be enthralled with Big Bird.
From "The Great Gilly Hopkins" by Katherine Paterson
The match itself was enthralling - no way could it be described as a tactical battle.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
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
The attack is the subject of James Verini’s enthralling book, “The Theater.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 20, 2026
Though the reality and meaning of the Bible stories seemed vast and alien, I still found the stories enthralling, so I said: “The Bible stories are nice.”
From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane
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.
