captivated audience

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "captivated audience" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an audience that is fully engaged and interested in a performance, speech, or presentation. Example: "The speaker held a captivated audience, hanging on every word as he shared his inspiring story."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

But, as he explained to a captivated audience, every time he got within sight of the pinnacle, he blew it.

The Guardian - Film

It wasn't long before we stumbled upon a hungry turtle, chomping away, unperturbed by the captivated audience of divers: you can see why people flock here to learn to dive.

The Guardian - Travel

"Pure Language," in what might be an homage to DeLillo, brings together another captivated audience: His handset had no trouble locating his wife's handset, but it took many minutes of scanning that section of the crowd with his zoom to actually spot her.

The New Yorker

There was a relaxed and positive atmosphere as Van Gaal held court to a captivated audience for 22 minutes.

BBC

Neither did the captivated audience.

Huffington Post

It was as though he played alone, albeit before a captivated audience that swelled to 50,000".

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Riefenstahl's use of moving cameras, telephoto lenses, distorted perspectives and aerial photography captivated audiences.

The Economist

Since debuting at a festival called VirgenFest, Vel France has captivated audiences with syrupy lyrics and nice guitar riffs.

The Guardian - Music

More recently Victoria Beckham captivated audiences by showing at an Upper East Side town house, the models brushing by spectators' knees as Ms. Beckham herself narrated the proceedings.

The New York Times

Later, the Concellos and Codonas on the flying trapeze, Con Colleano on the tightwire, and the juggler Enrico Rastelli captivated audiences with their skill and daring.

Encyclopedia Britannica

As serious a position as that may sound, Arcimboldo captivated audiences not for his skillful likenesses but rather for his wacky and whimsical allegorical portraits.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "captivated audience" when you want to emphasize the audience's strong engagement and interest in a performance, speech, or presentation. It suggests a high level of attention and enjoyment.

Common error

While "captivated audience" is widely understood, be mindful of overuse in extremely formal or academic writing. Consider alternatives like "attentive audience" or "engaged audience" if a more neutral tone is desired.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "captivated audience" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "captivated" modifies the noun "audience". It describes the state or condition of the audience, indicating they are deeply engaged and interested. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "captivated audience" effectively describes a group deeply engaged and interested in something. According to Ludwig AI, its usability is correct and is observed in various contexts, primarily in News & Media. While grammatically sound and commonly used, it's wise to consider context and potentially opt for alternatives in more formal settings. Semantically related options include "riveted audience" or "enthralled audience", which offer subtle shifts in meaning. When writing, the key is to ensure the phrase aligns with the overall tone and intended impact, avoiding overuse to maintain freshness and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

riveted audience

Replaces "captivated" with "riveted", suggesting the audience is completely focused and unable to look away.

enthralled audience

Substitutes "captivated" with "enthralled", indicating the audience is charmed and delighted.

engrossed audience

Uses "engrossed" instead of "captivated", implying the audience is completely absorbed in what they are experiencing.

spellbound audience

Replaces "captivated" with "spellbound", suggesting the audience is under a magical or hypnotic influence.

attentive audience

Changes "captivated" to "attentive", emphasizing the audience's focus and concentration.

intrigued audience

Substitutes "captivated" with "intrigued", highlighting the audience's curiosity and interest.

charmed audience

Uses "charmed" instead of "captivated", suggesting the audience is delighted and pleased.

fascinated audience

Replaces "captivated" with "fascinated", implying the audience is extremely interested and curious.

absorbed audience

Changes "captivated" to "absorbed", emphasizing the audience's deep immersion in the experience.

rapt audience

Substitutes "captivated" with "rapt", indicating the audience is completely focused and transported by what they are seeing or hearing.

FAQs

What does "captivated audience" mean?

A "captivated audience" is a group of people who are completely engaged, interested, and fascinated by something they are watching or listening to. They are giving their full attention and are often emotionally invested in the experience.

How can I effectively use "captivated audience" in a sentence?

Use "captivated audience" to describe a situation where the audience is deeply engrossed and attentive. For example, "The speaker held a "captivated audience", hanging on every word as he shared his inspiring story."

What can I say instead of "captivated audience"?

You can use alternatives like "riveted audience", "enthralled audience", or "attentive audience" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "captive audience" the same as "captivated audience"?

No, "captive audience" and "captivated audience" have different meanings. A captive audience is one that is required to be present, while a "captivated audience" is one that is fascinated and engaged.