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
1
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 notesIn plain EnglishSo interesting or attractive that it grabs and holds your attention.
Common pairings
captivating performance
captivating story
a captivating smile
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more captivating
- Superlative
- most captivating
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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.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for captivating
See all rhymes for captivating →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.
