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Definition of captivate

captivate

/ˈkæp.tɪ.veɪt/
cap · ti · vate
Adverb:captivatingly
•
Adjective:captivating
•
Past Simple:captivated
•
Past Participle:captivated
•
Present Participle:captivating
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captivate Lexical Profile

captivate Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To attract and hold the interest and attention of someone by means of great charm, beauty, or skill.

Example

"The storyteller's vivid descriptions managed to captivate the entire audience for over two hours."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for captivate

• Nearby Words

caption
captioning
captionless
captivate
captivating
captivatingly
captivation

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the early 16th century from Late Latin captivatus, the past participle of captivare ('to take captive'), derived from Latin captivus ('caught, taken prisoner') and capere ('to take or seize'). Originally used literally to mean taking someone prisoner, it soon shifted almost exclusively to the figurative sense of holding someone's mind or heart through charm.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Captivate. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/captivate
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