verb B1 Intermediate

fascinate

FA-sih-nayt

Fascinate (verb) means to hold someone's intense interest or attraction. Example: “Ancient Egyptian history has always fascinated her.”

verb

To hold someone's intense interest or attraction.

"Ancient Egyptian history has always fascinated her."

"The way octopuses change colour fascinates scientists."

How to use fascinate

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo grab and hold someone's attention because something is so interesting.

Common pairings

fascinate scientists continue to fascinate fascinated by

Word forms

fascinated past tense, fascinates singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Ancient Egyptian history has always _____ her.

Etymology

From Latin fascinare, "to bewitch or enchant," originally connected to the idea of casting a spell over someone.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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catch entrance capture charm grip trance intrigue enchant enamor enamour becharm beguile

Related words

take view hear match door access catch influence

Rhymes for fascinate

ate date rate mate fate abate slate plate state grate create update

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Frequently asked questions

What does “fascinate” mean?

The word “fascinate” means to hold someone's intense interest or attraction. In plain terms, to grab and hold someone's attention because something is so interesting.

How do you pronounce “fascinate”?

“Fascinate” is pronounced FA-sih-nayt (/ˈfæsɪneɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “fascinate” in a sentence?

Here is “fascinate” used in a sentence: “Ancient Egyptian history has always fascinated her.”

What part of speech is “fascinate”?

“Fascinate” is a verb.

Where does the word “fascinate” come from?

The word “fascinate” comes from Latin. From Latin fascinare, "to bewitch or enchant," originally connected to the idea of casting a spell over someone.

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