fascinate

[fas-uh-neyt]

verb (used with object)

fascinated, fascinating 

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.

   Synonyms: delight, charm, spellbind, enchant, bewitch

2. to arouse the interest or curiosity of.

   As I learned about ancient Egyptian religion, I found elements that fascinated me.

3. to transfix or deprive of the power of resistance, as through terror.

   The sight of the snake fascinated the rabbit.

4. Obsolete.,  to bewitch.

5. Obsolete.,  to cast under a spell by a look.

verb (used without object)

fascinated, fascinating 

1. to capture the interest or hold the attention.

fascinate

/ ˈfæsɪˌneɪt /

verb

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

3. archaic,  to put under a spell

Usage

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

Other Word Forms

• fascination noun
• fascinative adjective
• fascinatedly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of fascinate¹

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of fascinate¹

C16: from Latin fascināre , from fascinum a bewitching

Example Sentences

"It absolutely fascinates us... you've got that microcosm, you can see all of that being played out in a rather fun way."

Read more on BBC

Su has described herself as an “engineer’s engineer” who is fascinated by device physics, a discipline that studies how machines can interact with tiny particles like electrons and protons.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

One of the most fascinating story lines to watch in the coming weeks will be the fortunes of the coaches involved in this game.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The author delivers fascinating details of working with Ms. Brown and her successor, David Remnick, both of whom came to value Ms. Orlean and her unpredictable ideas.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

What makes the rivalry so fascinating from major to major is that these two champions are now reacting to each other’s styles in real time.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• animate 
• attract 
• beguile 
• bewitch 
• charm 
• delight 
• enamor 
• enchant 
• engage 
• engross 
• enrapture 
• enthrall 
• entice 
• excite 
• infatuate 
• intoxicate 
• intrigue 
• mesmerize 
• overwhelm 
• please