a captivating performance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a captivating performance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a performance that is highly engaging and holds the audience's attention. Example: "The actor delivered a captivating performance that left the audience in awe."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

And it is such a captivating performance that you can forgive the hyperbole.

Independent

And in a fine cast, Ms. Cheung delivers a captivating performance.

The New York Times

According to Variety, he gives "a captivating performance", enabling audiences to sympathise with an easily dislikable and difficult character.

The Guardian - Film

Nathaniel Parker was a fine Henry, Lydia Leonard a compellingly ambiguous Anne, and Ben Miles gave a captivating performance as Cromwell, at once urgent and opaque.

The Guardian

The chief difficulty with the play is that Mommo's story -- even delivered in a captivating performance by Pauline Flanagan -- is almost impossible to parse.

The New York Times

And in Kate's agitated, self-conscious but self-aware account — delivered by Ms. Wyatt in a captivating performance, directed by Joe Murphy — we see a Britain in the throes of seething ethnic strife.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

And at its heart is a likable character and an oddly captivating performance from Davies.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Danny Huston, who is also in The Constant Gardener, gives a brutally captivating performance as the seriously dangerous outlaw Arthur Burns.

The Guardian - Film

A breezily charming novel, with a thrilling story that also happens to be true, by a gifted young author amusingly anguished over the question of how to tell it … In principle there's nothing not to like about Laurent Binet's acclaimed debut, and HHhH is certainly a thoroughly captivating performance.

The Guardian - Books

She has done TV in Ireland and Germany as well as the UK, a flawless, captivating performance in Peter Mullan's stark, award-winning film about the Magdalene laundries, the Magdalene Sisters - a theme she reprised for the TV drama Sinners - and then several costume dramas including Charles II and the Aristocrats.

The Guardian

Logan Frances Kruger, Durell R. Comedy, Kristen Foote and Dante Puleio were all handsome and evocative on Wednesday, with Ms. Foote offering an especially captivating performance.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a performance, use "a captivating performance" to convey that the performance not only holds the audience's attention but also evokes a sense of wonder and engagement.

Common error

Avoid using "a captivating performance" repeatedly within a single review or analysis. Vary your language by using synonyms like "enthralling performance" or "mesmerizing performance" to keep your writing engaging and avoid sounding repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a captivating performance" functions as a descriptive noun phrase, where "captivating" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "performance". Ludwig AI confirms its usability in describing engaging performances.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

12%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a captivating performance" is a phrase used to describe a performance that is highly engaging and holds the audience's attention. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and appropriate for use in written English. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts. While the phrase is relatively common, it's important to avoid overuse and consider synonyms like "an enthralling performance" or "a mesmerizing performance" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an enthralling performance

Replaces 'captivating' with 'enthralling', emphasizing the performance's ability to hold the audience spellbound.

a mesmerizing performance

Substitutes 'captivating' with 'mesmerizing', focusing on the performance's hypnotic and spellbinding qualities.

a compelling performance

Uses 'compelling' instead of 'captivating', highlighting the performance's ability to strongly attract and hold interest.

a gripping performance

Replaces 'captivating' with 'gripping', emphasizing the performance's ability to seize and maintain the audience's attention intensely.

an outstanding performance

Substitutes 'captivating' with 'outstanding', focusing on the exceptional quality and merit of the performance.

an exceptional performance

Uses 'exceptional' instead of 'captivating', highlighting that the performance is far above average.

a remarkable performance

Replaces 'captivating' with 'remarkable', underscoring the performance's noteworthy and memorable nature.

an impressive performance

Substitutes 'captivating' with 'impressive', focusing on the performance's ability to evoke admiration and respect.

a virtuoso performance

Suggests a performance marked by exceptional technical skill and artistry.

a tour-de-force performance

Highlights a performance demonstrating great skill, energy, or ingenuity, often implying a challenging or ambitious undertaking.

FAQs

How can I use "a captivating performance" in a sentence?

You can use "a captivating performance" to describe any display of skill that deeply engages an audience. For example: "The lead actor delivered a captivating performance, holding the audience spellbound throughout the play."

What words are similar to "a captivating performance"?

Similar phrases include "an enthralling performance", "a mesmerizing performance", or "a compelling performance". These all describe performances that strongly attract and hold the attention of an audience.

Is it better to say "captivating performance" or "good performance"?

"Captivating performance" implies a performance that not only is good but also holds the audience's attention and evokes a strong emotional response. "Good performance" is more general, while "captivating performance" is more specific and impactful.

What makes a performance considered "a captivating performance"?

A performance described as "a captivating performance" typically exhibits a high level of skill, artistry, and emotional depth. It has the power to draw the audience in, hold their attention, and leave a lasting impression.