adj

captivating

KAP-tih-vay-tihng

Captivating (adj) means so interesting, charming, or beautiful that it holds someone's full attention. Example: “Her captivating smile was the first thing anyone noticed about her.”

adj

So interesting, charming, or beautiful that it holds someone's full attention.

"Her captivating smile was the first thing anyone noticed about her."

"He told a captivating story that kept the children silent for once."

How to Use Captivating

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSo interesting or attractive that it grabs and holds your attention.

Common pairings

captivating performance captivating story a captivating smile

Word Forms

more captivating comparative, most captivating superlative

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Her _____ smile was the first thing anyone noticed about her.

Etymology

Formed from captivate (from Latin captivus, "captured, taken prisoner") plus the ending -ing.

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for captivating

mating rating eating dating hating heating grating stating beating coating skating seating

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “captivating” mean?

The word “captivating” means so interesting, charming, or beautiful that it holds someone's full attention. In plain terms, so interesting or attractive that it grabs and holds your attention.

How do you pronounce “captivating”?

“Captivating” is pronounced KAP-tih-vay-tihng (/ˈkæptɪveɪtɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “captivating” in a sentence?

Here is “captivating” used in a sentence: “Her captivating smile was the first thing anyone noticed about her.”

What part of speech is “captivating”?

“Captivating” is an adjective.

Where does the word “captivating” come from?

The word “captivating” comes from Latin. Formed from captivate (from Latin captivus, "captured, taken prisoner") plus the ending -ing.