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
From the heroic tales of Perseus and Andromeda to the zodiac signs that shape horoscopes, these star patterns have captivated cultures across the globe.
—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2025
With one million units sold annually; the Magic 8 Ball has been in existence for 75 years and remains a pop culture staple, captivating generations with its mysterious ability to answer life’s questions with a simple shake.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2025
These were the qualities that captivated her most.
—Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 12 Oct. 2025
Introducing Michelle as his girlfriend, Manny looked on as Leo was clearly captivated by her effortless beauty and charming smile—but Leo would never make a move on his best friend’s girl.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for captivate
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Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2025
With one million units sold annually; the Magic 8 Ball has been in existence for 75 years and remains a pop culture staple, captivating generations with its mysterious ability to answer life’s questions with a simple shake.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2025
These were the qualities that captivated her most.
—Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 12 Oct. 2025
Introducing Michelle as his girlfriend, Manny looked on as Leo was clearly captivated by her effortless beauty and charming smile—but Leo would never make a move on his best friend’s girl.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 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 17 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
captivate
verb
cap·ti·vate
ˈkap-tə-ˌvāt
captivated; captivating
: to influence or fascinate by some special charm
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