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.
Synonyms
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
Think of Leigh’s subsequent sculpture as a monument to its headless-ness — at once a mockery of Joséphine’s thoughtless ignorance and a captivating salutation to the actual power of symbolic resistance.
—
Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2024
Pounder, a four-time Emmy Award winner, has captivated audiences for decades with her remarkable performances on movie and TV screens.
—J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2024
The canvas is filled in with captivating abstract shapes and patterns combined with recognizable imagery, including music notes, bow ties, animals, and segmented features.
—David Chiu, Peoplemag, 28 May 2024
With a stellar team assembled, the stage is set for music poised to captivate, provoke thought, and ultimately be cherished by audiences worldwide.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 21 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for captivate 
Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2024
Pounder, a four-time Emmy Award winner, has captivated audiences for decades with her remarkable performances on movie and TV screens.
—J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2024
The canvas is filled in with captivating abstract shapes and patterns combined with recognizable imagery, including music notes, bow ties, animals, and segmented features.
—David Chiu, Peoplemag, 28 May 2024
With a stellar team assembled, the stage is set for music poised to captivate, provoke thought, and ultimately be cherished by audiences worldwide.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 21 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for captivate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'captivate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near captivate
Cite this Entry
“Captivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captivate. Accessed 6 Jun. 2024.
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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