Captivated
/ˈkæptɪveɪtɪd/
verbIntermediateCommonGeneral
Meaning
Question
Definitions
1
To fascinate or enchant someone, holding their complete attention.
/ˈkæptɪveɪtɪd/
verbpositiveIntermediate
General
To hold the attention of someone completely
The breathtaking scenery captivated her.
💡 Simply: To be completely charmed or fascinated by something.
More Examples
2
His charisma captivated the crowd.
How It's Used
Literature
"The captivating story held the reader's attention until the very end."
Performance Arts
"The singer's voice captivated the audience."
From Middle English *captifien*, from Old French *captiver*, from Latin *captivus* "captive, prisoner". The -ated suffix indicates the past participle form, signifying a state of being captivated.
Historically, the word carried a stronger connotation of being held prisoner, but its modern usage emphasizes fascination and enchantment.
Memory tip
Imagine a captivating performance that keeps you completely engrossed.
Practice
Base: captivate
captivatedcaptivetdcaptivateed
Usage
20%Spoken
80%Written