verb

mesmerize

MEZ-muh-ryze

Mesmerize (verb) means to hold someone's attention so completely that they cannot look away or think about anything else. Example: “The dancers mesmerized the whole audience.”

verb

To hold someone's attention so completely that they cannot look away or think about anything else.

"The dancers mesmerized the whole audience."

"He sat mesmerized by the fire for the best part of an hour."

dated To hypnotise someone.

"The showman claimed he could mesmerize a volunteer in seconds."

How to Use Mesmerize

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo grab someone's attention so strongly they cannot look away.

When to use it

Neutral and common; usually positive, describing something beautiful or striking.

Memory tip

Do not mix it up with memorize, which means to learn by heart.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

memorize → hypnotise

Common pairings

utterly mesmerized mesmerized by mesmerizing performance

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The dancers _____ the whole audience.

Etymology

From the name of Franz Anton Mesmer, the eighteenth-century German physician whose theory of 'animal magnetism' gave rise to the practice later called hypnotism. He practised for years in Vienna, which is why he is often loosely called Austrian.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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captivate enthral spellbind transfix entrance hypnotise put under

Antonyms

bore repel

Related Words

interest door access pull entry gate arrival entering

Rhymes for mesmerize

size maize prize Belize utilize capsize realize baptize idolize optimize monetize colonize

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it mesmerize or mesmerise?

Both are correct. Mesmerize is standard in American English and also widely used in Britain, while mesmerise follows the usual British -ise pattern.

What is the difference between mesmerize and hypnotise?

Hypnotise means to put someone into an actual trance state. Mesmerize now nearly always means to fascinate someone completely, though it started out as another word for hypnotise.

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