To hold someone's attention through unusually strong interest, delight, or charm.
Reach for it when describing an experience or person that makes an audience eager to keep watching or listening
The puppeteer could captivate a restless crowd without saying a word.
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday |
|
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
playful
Fits when attention seems trance-like or visually hypnotic
Careful The trance suggestion overstates an intellectually lively talk.
everyday
Fits when curiosity and wonder keep attention fixed
Careful Something disturbing can fascinate, whereas captivate usually carries pleasure or admiration.
warm
Fits when personal appeal wins affection as well as attention
Careful Charm may create a pleasant impression without holding attention for long.
warm
Fits when pleasure matters more than sustained attention
Careful A brief joke can delight without captivating anyone.
professional
engage
Fits when active attention or participation is the goal
Careful Engagement may be partial and practical rather than emotionally compelling.
formal
engross
Fits when total mental absorption is the central effect
Careful Engross can fit dry work and lacks the delight commonly felt in captivation.
literary
Fits when the hold on the audience feels almost spellbinding
Careful The dramatic intensity is excessive for modest, pleasant interest.
captivate an audience
A strong opening can captivate an audience before the first chart appears.
continue to captivate
The night sky continues to captivate generations of young observers.
captivate the imagination
Stories of hidden cities captivate the imagination.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated
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