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
1
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."
2
dated To hypnotise someone.
"The showman claimed he could mesmerize a volunteer in seconds."
How to use mesmerize
Learner’s notesIn 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.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
utterly mesmerized
mesmerized by
mesmerizing performance
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like mesmerize.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for mesmerize
See all rhymes for mesmerize →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.
What is the meaning of mesmerize?
"mesmerize" (verb) means to hold someone's attention so completely that they cannot look away or think about anything else.
What is another word for mesmerize?
Other words for "mesmerize" include captivate, enthral, spellbind, transfix, entrance, hypnotize.
