having one's attention held as though one is bound by a spell
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
spell•bound
(spel′bound′),USA pronunciation adj.
- bound by or as if by a spell;
enchanted, entranced, or fascinated:a spellbound audience.
- spell2 + -bound1 1790–1800
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
spell•bind /ˈspɛlˌbaɪnd/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -bound, -bind•ing.
spell•bound /ˈspɛlˌbaʊnd/USA pronunciation adj.: a spellbound audience.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- to hold by or as if by a spell; enchant:They were spellbound by her fabulous performance.
spell•bound /ˈspɛlˌbaʊnd/USA pronunciation adj.: a spellbound audience.
spell•bind
(spel′bīnd′),USA pronunciation v.t., -bound, -bind•ing.
spell′bind′ing•ly, adv.
- to hold or bind by or as if by a spell;
enchant;
entrance;
fascinate.
- spell2 + bind, deduced from spellbound 1800–10
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
- (transitive)
to cause to be spellbound; entrance or enthral
'spellbound' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):