captivate

/ˈkæptɪveɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkæptɪveɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkap-tə-ˌvāt/ (ame, mw)

captivate — verb

  • captivatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • captivateshe / she / it
  • captivatedpast simple
  • captivating-ing form

1. to draw and hold a person's full interest because you are unusually charming, be

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to draw and hold a person's full interest because you are unusually charming, beautiful, exciting, or skilled — strong enough that they cannot easily look away or stop thinking about you.

例句

Daniel's smooth piano playing captivated the small crowd at the café.

captivate + audience-type object

The children were completely captivated by the puppet show in the park.

passive: be captivated by + [thing]

同義詞
  • enthrall

    very close in meaning; slightly more literary and often used of long-lasting fascination.

  • enchant

    emphasises charm and delight; gentler and warmer than 'captivate'.

  • mesmerize

    stresses being unable to look away, as if hypnotised; often used of movement or sound.

  • fascinate

    more neutral and everyday; can be used of curious interest, not only delighted attraction.

反義詞
  • bore

    direct opposite — fail to hold attention.

  • repel

    stronger; not only fails to attract but pushes the viewer away.

文法句型

captivate + somebody

be captivated by + something

用法筆記

Frequently passive: 'be captivated by' is more common than the active form. Subjects are usually a performer, a creative work, or a striking scene; objects are people whose attention is fully held, not merely caught.

常見錯誤

❌The poster captivated my eyes.
✅The poster caught my eye.
💡'captivate' takes a person as its object, not a body part; for a brief glance use 'catch one's eye'.
❌I was captivated by the news.
✅I was gripped by the news.
💡'captivate' suggests delighted fascination, so it sounds odd with serious or upsetting topics.