be enthralled by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be enthralled by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing a deep fascination or captivation with something, such as a story, performance, or experience. Example: "The audience was completely enthralled by the magician's incredible tricks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Sometimes it is right to be enthralled by statistics.

The Guardian - Sport

We tune in, in large part, to be enthralled by the trivial.

The New Yorker

The students didn't appear to be enthralled by this tale, which caused Schnabel to redouble his efforts to charm them.

The New Yorker

Yet there's still part of me that longs to be enthralled by a 21st-century literary Satan.

The Guardian - Books

Taste comes into this, of course, and some readers will be enthralled by lines that I find annoyingly mannered.

The Guardian - Books

'Anyone, anywhere, interested in the construction of a sentence would have to admire, and be enthralled, by his writing.

The Guardian - Books

— Julia Moskin Epicurious: The food world may be enthralled by Noma, but its hometown, Copenhagen, may be ready to move on.

The New York Times

The enduring popularity of Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit demonstrates that children can be enthralled by a good story even when its vocabulary might be regarded as demanding.

The New Yorker

Women who are happy to be treated to dinner probably keep pretending to be enthralled by their date's dull chat about jobs and sports.

The New York Times

Like most movies with an antiwar message, "War Horse" cannot help but be enthralled by the epic scale and transformative power of military conflict.

The New York Times

When the BBC miniseries "Wolf Hall" debuts on Masterpiece tonight, the American public will once again be enthralled by a superb British costume drama.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the level of formality needed in your document when using this phrase. While acceptable for most contexts, more formal settings might require a slightly varied expression, such as "captivated by" or "fascinated by".

Common error

Avoid using "be enthralled by" when a simpler term like "interested in" or "impressed by" would suffice. Overusing this phrase can dilute its impact and make your writing sound unnecessarily dramatic. Choose the phrase that best suits the intensity of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be enthralled by" functions as a passive verb phrase followed by a preposition. It indicates that someone or something is in a state of being completely captivated or fascinated by something else. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Books

16%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be enthralled by" is a powerful way to express deep fascination or captivation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely used, although considering context and audience is always smart. With a neutral register, it's suitable for diverse writing styles, from news articles to storytelling. Remember to use it intentionally when you want to highlight a strong emotional connection or captivation, and steer clear when a simpler term would be more effective. The phrase appears most often in journalistic contexts, and top-tier sources regularly use it. Alternatives such as "captivated by" or "mesmerized by" can add nuance, depending on the message you intend to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be captivated by

Uses 'captivated' to convey a sense of being charmed or strongly attracted.

be spellbound by

Suggests a magical or enchanting quality in the experience.

be mesmerized by

Suggests a hypnotic or spellbound state of attention.

be riveted by

Implies a strong, compelling hold on one's attention.

become fascinated by

Emphasizes the process of becoming interested, replacing 'enthralled' with 'fascinated'.

be intrigued by

Highlights the element of curiosity and interest being piqued.

develop a fascination with

Focuses on the development of interest over time.

find oneself engrossed in

Highlights the state of being deeply absorbed, differing slightly in focus from initial attraction.

be absorbed in

Emphasizes total immersion and focus, deviating slightly from initial fascination.

be charmed by

Focuses on the delightful and pleasing aspect of the experience.

FAQs

How can I use "be enthralled by" in a sentence?

Use "be enthralled by" to describe a state of being completely captivated or fascinated by something. For example, "The audience was "be enthralled by" the performance".

What's a synonym for "be enthralled by"?

Alternatives to "be enthralled by" include "be captivated by", "be fascinated by", or "be mesmerized by", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "be enthralled with" or "be enthralled by"?

"Be enthralled by" is the correct and more commonly used preposition. "Be enthralled with" is less frequent and may sound awkward to some readers.

What is the difference between "be fascinated by" and "be enthralled by"?

While both imply strong interest, "be enthralled by" suggests a deeper level of captivation, almost as if under a spell, whereas "be fascinated by" implies a more intellectual or curious interest. Consider using "be fascinated by" in cases where simple curiousity is more appropriate.