fascinate
to attract and hold attentively by a unique power, personal charm, unusual nature, or some other special quality; enthrall: His natural vivacity fascinates and dominates his audience, leading them wherever he will.
to arouse the interest or curiosity of: As I learned about ancient Egyptian religion, I found elements that fascinated me.
to transfix or deprive of the power of resistance, as through terror: The sight of the snake fascinated the rabbit.
Obsolete. to bewitch.
Obsolete. to cast under a spell by a look.
to capture the interest or hold the attention.
Origin of fascinate
1Other words for fascinate
Other words from fascinate
- fas·ci·na·tive, adjective
Words Nearby fascinate
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use fascinate in a sentence
His conservatism, which is more of a cultural than political kidney, seems to fascinate, delight or detract critics.
Whit Stillman on the 20th Anniversary of ‘Barcelona’, His New Amazon Series, and the Myth of the Ugly Expat | Michael Weiss | August 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe performances that shook Kansas City's underground culture decades ago still continues to fascinate onlookers today.
Private Birthday Party: A Look at Kansas City’s Long Lost Drag Queens | Erin Cunningham | April 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe region continues to fascinate me and the number of interesting producers keeps growing and growing.
What to Drink in 2014: 13 Chefs and Critics Picks | Jordan Salcito | January 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST“Partial disclosures of male closeness fascinate me,” he says.
Speed Read: 13 Juiciest Bits From Morrissey’s ‘Autobiography’ | Nico Hines | October 17, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTWhat does fascinate Jünger, and about which he has the most interesting things to say, is the issue of physical courage.
This man was indubitably clever, and to a less educated eye than Gwynne's his face would appeal and fascinate.
Ancestors | Gertrude AthertonOch, and the girls whose poor hearts you deracinate, Whirl and bewilder and flutter and fascinate!
The Book of Humorous Verse | VariousThe picture seemed to fascinate her as though it were the reflection of some stranger.
The Beach of Dreams | H. De Vere StacpooleBrave as the young man was, he could not support the cold and sea-green eye of the hideous bird, which appeared to fascinate him.
The Flying Horseman | Gustave AimardYou would fascinate the great ones of the earth, and they would tell you tales of State that would help the great cause.
Polly the Pagan | Isabel Anderson
British Dictionary definitions for fascinate
/ (ˈfæsɪˌneɪt) /
to attract and delight by arousing interest or curiosity: his stories fascinated me for hours
to render motionless, as with a fixed stare or by arousing terror or awe
archaic to put under a spell
Origin of fascinate
1usage For fascinate
Derived forms of fascinate
- fascinatedly, adverb
- fascination, noun
- fascinative, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse