captivate
verb
cap·ti·vate
ˈkap-tə-ˌvāt 
captivated; captivating
1
: to influence and dominate by some special charm, art, or trait and with an irresistible appeal
We were captivated by her beauty.
The scenery captivated our attention.
Examples of captivate in a Sentence
The play has been captivating audiences for years.
the clown captivated the toddlers with his balloon tricks
Recent Examples on the Web
She's particularly captivated by secondary problems that modern technologies inadvertently cause.
—
Perri Thaler, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2025
TikTok video displaying a note from a pilot – handwritten on a brown napkin – that would soon captivate millions online.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 10 Mar. 2025
In a captivating editorial titled High Society, Smalls is transformed into a modern-day aristocrat, wearing timeless looks from Chanel, Dior, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and more.
—Mecca Pryor, Essence, 10 Mar. 2025
Our seven-part guide has helpful hints to achieve better sleep.
CNN —
I’m captivated by my new personal health tracker, a Christmas gift from my husband.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for captivate
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Perri Thaler, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2025
TikTok video displaying a note from a pilot – handwritten on a brown napkin – that would soon captivate millions online.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 10 Mar. 2025
In a captivating editorial titled High Society, Smalls is transformed into a modern-day aristocrat, wearing timeless looks from Chanel, Dior, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and more.
—Mecca Pryor, Essence, 10 Mar. 2025
Our seven-part guide has helpful hints to achieve better sleep.
CNN —
I’m captivated by my new personal health tracker, a Christmas gift from my husband.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for captivate
Cite this Entry
“Captivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captivate. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
captivate
verb
cap·ti·vate
ˈkap-tə-ˌvāt
captivated; captivating
: to influence or fascinate by some special charm
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share