captivate

/ˌkæptəˈveɪt/

/ˈkæptɪveɪt/

Other forms: captivated; captivating; captivates

To captivate means to attract others, fascinating or enchanting them. Some people are able to captivate with wit and charm, others with physical beauty, still others with intelligence.

Notice the similarity between the verbs captivate and capture. Both come ultimately from the Latin captus "taken captive." Still, while both words mean some sort of hold on someone, capture sounds harsh, as though a trap has been set, while captivate is a softer, more attractive word that suggests there might be a willingness to be caught. Robert S. McNamara, a former U.S. secretary of defense, said, "Coercion, after all, merely captures man. Freedom captivates him.”

Definitions of captivate

1. verb

   attract; cause to be enamored
   synonyms: becharm, beguile, bewitch, capture, catch, charm, enamor, enamour, enchant, entrance, fascinate, trance

   types:

   hold

   hold the attention of

   work

   gratify and charm, usually in order to influence

   type of:

   appeal, attract

   be attractive to