enthrall

[ en-thrawl ]

verb (used with object)

1. to captivate or charm:

   a performer whose grace, skill, and virtuosity enthrall her audiences.

   Synonyms: enrapture, transport, entrance, enchant, spellbind

2. to put or hold in slavery; subjugate:

   to be enthralled by illusions and superstitions.

Other Words From

• en·thrall·er noun
• en·thrall·ing·ly adverb
• en·thrall·ment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of enthrall¹

First recorded in 1570–80; en- ¹ + thrall

Example Sentences

An opera doesn’t require an intricate plot or dazzling tricks, only that its stars enthrall their audience with their breathtaking talent in the moments that count.

From Salon

More than a century after his death aboard the Quest, Shackleton’s journeys continue to enthrall historians and members of the public through popular books, a Harvard Business School course on “resilient leadership” and an upcoming biopic starring Tom Hardy.

From New York Times

There are gorgeous fight sequences and enough Marvel universe action to enthrall children and teenagers.

From New York Times

If we were living in a just society, where the justice system did not use unjust practices to enthrall us, then we could just find something else to talk about.

From Los Angeles Times

But at heart, this is a heist saga designed to enthrall in its ingenuity and ambition, one of the more presentable cases of cowboy spycraft from an us-versus-them time.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• beguile
• bewitch
• enchant
• enrapture
• fascinate
• hypnotize
• intrigue
• mesmerize
• preoccupy
• rivet
• subdue