captivate

[ kap-tuh-veyt ]

verb (used with object)

, cap·ti·vat·ed, cap·ti·vat·ing.

1. to attract and hold the attention or interest of, as by beauty or excellence; enchant:

   Her blue eyes and red hair captivated him.

   Synonyms: charm, bewitch, fascinate

2. Obsolete. to capture; subjugate.

   Synonyms: subdue

captivate

/ ˈkæptɪˌveɪt /

verb

1. to hold the attention of by fascinating; enchant
2. an obsolete word for capture

Derived Forms

• ˌcaptiˈvation, noun
• ˈcaptiˌvatingly, adverb
• ˈcaptiˌvator, noun

Other Words From

• cap·ti·va·tion [kap-t, uh, -, vey, -sh, uh, n], noun
• cap·ti·va·tive adjective
• cap·ti·va·tor noun
• un·cap·ti·vat·ed adjective
• un·cap·ti·va·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of captivate¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Late Latin captīvātus (past participle of captīvāre “to take captive”), equivalent to Latin captīv(us) captive + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of captivate¹

C16: from Late Latin captivāre, from captīvus captive

Example Sentences

Now that shy Samoan boy who watched Marcus and Tua captivate the Samoan community is poised to step into a place of similar cultural significance.

From Los Angeles Times

But that is just one of the many twists and turns in the jaw-dropping story of Bitcoin, which continues to captivate people worldwide and has seen the making - and losing - of huge fortunes.

From BBC

While his violinist mother, Maria Alfaro, had the same worry as his father about her son entering the music industry, she wasn’t surprised that he was able to captivate an audience.

From Los Angeles Times

"Together with our talented teams, I look forward to delivering bold, innovative products, that set us apart in the marketplace and captivate consumers for years to come," he added.

From BBC

During the 2000 election, Fox News would captivate the nation – and just maybe change the fate of American democracy.

From Slate

Related Words

• beguile
• bewitch
• charm
• dazzle
• delight
• enrapture
• entertain
• enthrall
• fascinate
• gratify
• grip
• hypnotize
• infatuate
• intrigue
• mesmerize
• please
• seduce