captivate
KAP-tih-vayt
/ˈkæp.tɪ.veɪt/
To attract and hold the interest and attention of; charm.
Captivate implies that the person is almost a 'prisoner' of their interest; they cannot look away.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'captivare' (to take captive). Originally, it meant to literally take someone as a prisoner of war. By the 17th century, it began to be used metaphorically for being 'taken prisoner' by beauty or charm.
Word relationships
- enthrall: 'Enthrall' is even stronger, suggesting a state of being enslaved by interest.
- fascinate: 'Fascinate' is more about curiosity; 'captivate' is more about charm.
- bore: To make someone feel weary and uninterested.
Commonly confused with
- capture: 'Capture' is physical; 'captivate' is emotional or mental.
Word family
- captivating (adjective): Capable of attracting and holding interest.
- captivation (noun): The state of being captivated.
Collocations
- captivate an audience
- completely captivated
- captivate the imagination
Example sentences
- "The singer's voice captivated the entire audience from the first note." Describing a performer.
- "She had a beauty that could captivate the most hardened heart." A classic literary description.
Memory hook
To 'captivate' is to take someone's heart 'captive'. Captivate: To take 'captive' with charm.
When not to use
Avoid for minor interests; it should be something that truly 'holds' you.
Fun facts
- The word 'captive' and 'captivate' share the same root, but one is usually a bad thing and the other is usually a compliment.
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