fascinate

[ fas-uh-neyt ]

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.

   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)

, fas·ci·nat·ed, fas·ci·nat·ing.

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

Derived Forms

• ˌfasciˈnation, noun
• ˈfascinative, adjective
• ˈfasciˌnatedly, adverb

Other Words From

• fas·ci·na·tive adjective

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

Another factor is “just having extreme social anxiety for a long, long time. People were fascinating to me, but also scary. I would kind of clam up around people because my brain would short-circuit.”

From Los Angeles Times

When it comes to the character of Doctor Cotter, I find her incredibly fascinating, and she got even deeper and richer when we cast Lesley Manville.

From Salon

What draws me to the Jurassic Vineyard Riesling is its unique character and fascinating origins.

From Salon

That's a really fascinating, connective thing that our culture all engages in.

From Salon

Hearing what the bosses had to say, before a packed public gallery and benches of lawyers, was fascinating.

From BBC

Related Words

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