Vocabulary Spotlight

Captivate

Part of Speech: Verb

Definition: To attract and hold the interest or attention of; to charm.

“The speaker’s engaging story captivated the audience from start to finish.”

Pronunciation

[kap-ti-veyt]

Synonyms, Antonyms & Related Words

Synonyms

Enchant
Charm
Fascinate
Mesmerize
Intrigue

Antonyms

Bore
Repel
Disinterest
Disenchant

Related Words

Captivating (adjective)
Captivation (noun)
Captive (noun)

Word Origin

“Captivate” comes from the Latin “captivus,” meaning “taken” or “captive.” It evolved to mean “holding one’s attention” or “fascinating” in English.

Word Family

Verb: Captivate – To charm or hold attention.

Noun: Captivation – The state of being captivated.

Adjective: Captivating – Fascinating or charming.

Mnemonics

Think “Cap-tivate” as “Capture the attention” – to hold someone’s interest or fascination.

Industry-specific Usage

Entertainment

Entertainers aim to captivate their audiences by engaging them fully through performance.

Marketing

Marketers use captivating advertisements to grab attention and promote brand loyalty.

Education

Teachers captivate students by making lessons interactive and engaging.

In Context

Captivating presentations, personalities, and ideas can hold people’s interest and inspire them, making captivation a valuable skill in many fields.

Vocabulary Challenges

1. What is a synonym for “captivate”?

Enchant
Disinterest
Repel
Bore

‘Enchant’ is correct, as it implies attracting or holding attention, like “captivate.”

2. Fill in the blank: The scenic view of the mountains completely _______ the tourists.

repelled
captivated
bored
ignored

‘Captivated’ is correct as it means to fascinate or hold the attention of the tourists.

3. In which situation would “captivate” be most appropriate?

Cleaning a workspace
Running daily errands
Filing a report
Holding an audience’s attention during a speech

‘Holding an audience’s attention during a speech’ is correct, as captivate means to engage or charm the audience.