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
He has long been captivated by its culture, from its politics to its movies.
—
Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2025
Viewers were captivated by the tragic tales of characters like Little, drug dealer Michael Lee, drug addict Bubbles (Andre Royo), and dock worker Frank Sobotka (Chris Bauer).
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2025
Casamigos Reposado Taking over the capital since before the pandemic, Casamigos Reposado has become London’s tequila of the moment this spring, captivating drinkers with its smooth, oak-aged character and versatility in craft cocktails.
—Angela Lei, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Last Leaf, a collection from the Danish String Quartet, captivated the audience with its virtuosic music for violin, viola and cello, and the far-reaching sources reflected in its compositions.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for captivate
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Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2025
Viewers were captivated by the tragic tales of characters like Little, drug dealer Michael Lee, drug addict Bubbles (Andre Royo), and dock worker Frank Sobotka (Chris Bauer).
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2025
Casamigos Reposado Taking over the capital since before the pandemic, Casamigos Reposado has become London’s tequila of the moment this spring, captivating drinkers with its smooth, oak-aged character and versatility in craft cocktails.
—Angela Lei, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Last Leaf, a collection from the Danish String Quartet, captivated the audience with its virtuosic music for violin, viola and cello, and the far-reaching sources reflected in its compositions.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 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 11 Apr. 2025.
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captivate
verb
cap·ti·vate
ˈkap-tə-ˌvāt
captivated; captivating
: to influence or fascinate by some special charm
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