captivate

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "captivate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something that is very interesting and that has a strong ability to hold someone's attention. Example: His speech captivated the audience with its passionate delivery.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The big groups have seen their newspapers and magazines lose readers and advertising to the internet; their music businesses suffer piracy and falling sales; and someone else's video games captivate new generations of consumers.

The Economist

He also captures the thrill of being at a startup whose 140-character messages captivate high-profile people.

The Economist

To captivate new clients and keep the older ones on board, brands will have to invest shopping with a sense of occasion and give ordinary customers some of the individual attention they have lavished on their biggest-spending ones.

The Economist

Nuclear engineers are scarce in part because there has been little ongoing research to captivate students.The people needed cannot just be borrowed from the fossil-fuel industryAnother smart policy will be to re-examine the extent to which governments subsidise high-tech jobs in other industries, notably defence, tying up talent.

The Economist

Without a space race to captivate the imagination, and with so many other distractions for the young, could backyard astronomy ever make a return?

The Economist

If you can pull that information out on to the surface it's very intuitive .Clearly, the science-fiction dream of the flexible display continues to captivate the imagination.

The Economist

They could help people who have lost their voices speak again, captivate gamers in virtual worlds, direct lost drivers and enable dead celebrities to speak from beyond the grave.Mr Baker spent 11 days in a recording studio, reading nearly 12,000 sentences, to generate all the sounds needed to enable his voice to render any message.

The Economist

For the collectors of the future, it will not so much be the toys themselves but the stories they tell that captivate.

The Economist

He has only been in his job for a couple of months; there are natural reasons why he has yet to captivate either the public or the media.

The Economist

His paintings captivate Ms Morris, though she freely admits that this predilection is mainly confined to people who have been able to see them in Venice.

The Economist

They captivate youngsters and persuade them to give sport a go.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "captivate" when you want to emphasize the power of something to hold someone's attention completely and delightfully. For instance, "The speaker's charisma captivated the audience."

Common error

While "captivate" is a strong word, using it too frequently can diminish its impact. Vary your vocabulary with synonyms like "fascinate" or "enchant" to maintain the freshness of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "captivate" is as a transitive verb. It requires a direct object, indicating what or whom is being charmed or held by its captivating qualities. As Ludwig AI explains, the verb is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Encyclopedias

14%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Social Media

8%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "captivate" is a grammatically sound and frequently used transitive verb that signifies attracting and holding someone's attention or interest in a delightful way. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word is suitable for use in written English. It's prevalent in news, encyclopedias, and various other forms of media. When using "captivate", remember to consider synonyms such as "fascinate" or "enchant" to avoid overuse and maintain the freshness of your writing. Understanding its function and context helps in effectively employing "captivate" to convey a sense of charm and fascination.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fascinate

Implies a strong and irresistible attraction.

charm

Indicates a pleasing quality that attracts affection.

enchant

Suggests a magical or delightful quality that fascinates.

enthrall

Conveys a sense of being completely captivated and spellbound.

mesmerize

Suggests a hypnotic effect that holds attention.

engage

Focuses on actively drawing someone's interest.

intrigue

Implies arousing curiosity and interest through mystery.

allure

Suggests a subtle yet powerful attraction.

draw in

Emphasizes the act of pulling someone's attention towards something.

win over

Indicates successfully gaining someone's favor or interest.

FAQs

How to use "captivate" in a sentence?

You can use "captivate" to describe something that attracts and holds someone's attention. For example, "The magician's performance captivated the children."

What can I say instead of "captivate"?

You can use alternatives like ""fascinate"", ""enchant"", or "charm" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "captivate" or "captivate to"?

"Captivate" is a transitive verb and does not require the preposition "to". The correct usage is simply "captivate", as in "The story captivated her."

What's the difference between "captivate" and "fascinate"?

While both words describe attracting attention, "captivate" implies a delightful and enthralling quality, while ""fascinate"" suggests a strong and often intellectual interest.