captivate
Translation
to captivate, to charm, to fascinate
Examples
The storyteller captivated the children.
The storyteller captivated the children.
She was captivated by his charm.
She was captivated by his charm.
Grammar Patterns
((sb.)) to hold the attention of (sb.) completely His performance captivated the audience.
((to be captivated by sth./sb.)) to be fascinated by (sth./sb.) I was captivated by her beautiful voice.
Similar Words
Synonyms: fascinate, enchant, charm; Antonyms: bore, repel
Etymology
From Latin 'captivus' (captive). It literally means to make someone a 'captive' of your charm.
Memory Tips
Think of being 'captured' by someone's performance or story. You can't look away.