Standard Lemma guide

fascinate

verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈfæsɪneɪt/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: F AE1 S AH0 N EY2 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To evoke an intense interest or attraction in someone.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The flickering TV fascinated the cat.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To make someone hold motionless; to spellbind.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • We were fascinated by the potter's skill.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To be irresistibly charming or attractive to.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Her gait fascinates all men.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

attract; cause to be enamored

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She captured all the men's hearts

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: capture, enamour, trance, catch, becharm, enamor, captivate, beguile, charm, bewitch, entrance, enchant

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: attract, appeal

Narrower terms: hold, work

5

verb

Meaning 5

to render motionless, as with a fixed stare or by arousing terror or awe

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The snake charmer fascinates the cobra

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: transfix, grip, spellbind

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: interest

6

verb

Meaning 6

cause to be interested or curious

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: intrigue

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: matter to, interest

Narrower terms: grab, seize

History

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.

Across languages

Translations

55 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Afrikaans: fassineer — to evoke interest or attraction
  • Arabic: فَتَنَ (fatana) — to evoke interest or attraction
  • Bulgarian: привличам (privličam) — to evoke interest or attraction
  • Bulgarian: очаровам (očarovam) — to evoke interest or attraction
  • Catalan: fascinar — to evoke interest or attraction
  • Chinese Mandarin: 誘惑 /诱惑 (yòuhuò) — to evoke interest or attraction
  • Chinese Mandarin: 迷住 (mízhu) — to evoke interest or attraction
  • Chinese Mandarin: 吸引 (xīyǐn) — to evoke interest or attraction
  • Czech: fascinovat — to evoke interest or attraction
  • Dutch: fascineren — to evoke interest or attraction
  • Esperanto: fascini — to evoke interest or attraction
  • Finnish: viehättää — to evoke interest or attraction
  • French: fasciner — to evoke interest or attraction
  • Galician: fascinar — to evoke interest or attraction
  • German: faszinieren — to evoke interest or attraction
  • Greek: συναρπάζω (synarpázo) — to evoke interest or attraction
  • Japanese: 魅惑する (miwaku suru) — to evoke interest or attraction
  • Latin: fascinō — to evoke interest or attraction
  • Māori: manawarū — to evoke interest or attraction
  • Polish: fascynować — to evoke interest or attraction
  • Polish: zafascynować — to evoke interest or attraction
  • Portuguese: fascinar — to evoke interest or attraction
  • Russian: очаро́вывать (očaróvyvatʹ) — to evoke interest or attraction
  • Russian: очарова́ть (očarovátʹ) — to evoke interest or attraction
  • Russian: завора́живать (zavoráživatʹ) — to evoke interest or attraction
  • Spanish: fascinar — to evoke interest or attraction
  • Swedish: fascinera — to evoke interest or attraction
  • Tamil: கவர் (kavar) — to evoke interest or attraction
  • Ukrainian: захо́плювати (zaxópljuvaty) — to evoke interest or attraction
  • Bulgarian: омайвам (omajvam) — to spellbind
  • Czech: fascinovat — to spellbind
  • Czech: okouzlit — to spellbind
  • Finnish: lumoutua — to spellbind
  • French: fasciner — to spellbind
  • Galician: fascinar — to spellbind
  • German: faszinieren — to spellbind
  • Greek: συναρπάζω (synarpázo) — to spellbind
  • Latin: fascinō — to spellbind
  • Swedish: fascinera — to spellbind
  • Ukrainian: зачаро́вувати (začaróvuvaty) — to spellbind
  • Czech: okouzlit — to be charming or attractive
  • Finnish: viehättää — to be charming or attractive
  • French: fasciner — to be charming or attractive
  • Galician: fascinar — to be charming or attractive
  • German: faszinieren — to be charming or attractive
  • German: bezaubern — to be charming or attractive
  • Greek: γοητεύω (goïtévo) — to be charming or attractive
  • Greek: σαγηνεύω (saginévo) — to be charming or attractive
  • Māori: ātahu — to be charming or attractive
  • Russian: очаро́вывать (očaróvyvatʹ) — to be charming or attractive
  • Russian: очарова́ть (očarovátʹ) — to be charming or attractive
  • Russian: пленя́ть (plenjátʹ) — to be charming or attractive
  • Russian: плени́ть (plenítʹ) — to be charming or attractive
  • Ukrainian: зачаро́вувати (začaróvuvaty) — to be charming or attractive
  • Ukrainian: чарува́ти (čaruváty) — to be charming or attractive