fascinate

[ fas-uh-neyt ]
See synonyms for: fascinatefascinatedfascinatesfascinating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),fas·ci·nat·ed, fas·ci·nat·ing.
  1. to attract and hold attentively by a unique power, personal charm, unusual nature, or some other special quality; enthrall: His natural vivacity fascinates and dominates his audience, leading them wherever he will.

  2. to arouse the interest or curiosity of: As I learned about ancient Egyptian religion, I found elements that fascinated me.

  1. to transfix or deprive of the power of resistance, as through terror: The sight of the snake fascinated the rabbit.

  2. Obsolete. to bewitch.

  3. Obsolete. to cast under a spell by a look.

verb (used without object),fas·ci·nat·ed, fas·ci·nat·ing.
  1. to capture the interest or hold the attention.

Origin of fascinate

1
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin fascinātus, past participle of fascināre “to bewitch, cast a spell on,” verbal derivative of fascinum “evil spell, bewitchment”

Other words for fascinate

Other words from fascinate

  • fas·ci·na·tive, adjective

Words Nearby fascinate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use fascinate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for fascinate

fascinate

/ (ˈfæsɪˌneɪt) /


verb(mainly tr)
  1. to attract and delight by arousing interest or curiosity: his stories fascinated me for hours

  2. to render motionless, as with a fixed stare or by arousing terror or awe

  1. archaic to put under a spell

Origin of fascinate

1
C16: from Latin fascināre, from fascinum a bewitching

usage For fascinate

A person can be fascinated by or with another person or thing. It is correct to speak of someone's fascination with a person or thing; one can also say a person or thing has a fascination for someone

Derived forms of fascinate

  • fascinatedly, adverb
  • fascination, noun
  • fascinative, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012