Fascinate

//ˈfæsɪneɪt// verb

verb ·Moderate ·High school level

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To evoke an intense interest or attraction in someone.

    "The flickering TV fascinated the cat."

  2. 2
    attract; cause to be enamored wordnet
  3. 3
    To make someone hold motionless; to spellbind.

    "We were fascinated by the potter's skill."

  4. 4
    to render motionless, as with a fixed stare or by arousing terror or awe wordnet
  5. 5
    To be irresistibly charming or attractive to.

    "Her gait fascinates all men."

Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    cause to be interested or curious wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
intrigueabsorbabsorb the attentionaffectaffect the interestallure

Example

More examples

"Blood and violence fascinate them."

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin fascinātus, perfect passive participle of fascinō (“to enchant, bewitch, fascinate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from fascinum (“a phallus-shaped amulet worn around the neck in Ancient Rome; witchcraft”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix), itself of obscure origin.

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.