fascinate

UK: /ˈfæsɪneɪt/ US: /ˈfæsəˌneɪt/ ,(fas′ə nāt′)

Inflections of 'fascinate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

fascinates

v 3rd person singular

fascinating

v pres p

fascinated

v past

fascinated

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

fas•ci•nate /ˈfæsəˌneɪt/   v. [~ + object] , -nat•ed, -nat•ing. 

1. to attract and hold the attention of; arouse the interest or curiosity of;
   allure:
   Ancient Egypt has always fascinated me.

fas•ci•nated, adj. 
fas•ci•nat•ing, adj. 
fas•ci•na•tion /ˌfæsəˈneɪʃən/  n. [uncountable]
Related Words

fascinate is a verb, fascination is a noun, fascinating and fascinated are adjectives:
The magician fascinated the children with his tricks. Their faces showed their fascination. The fascinating tricks thrilled the children. The fascinated children talked about the magician all day.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

fas•ci•nate  (fas′ə nāt′), v., -nat•ed, -nat•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to attract and hold attentively by a unique power, personal charm, unusual nature, or some other special quality;
   enthrall:
   a vivacity that fascinated the audience.
2. to arouse the interest or curiosity of;
   allure.
3. to transfix or deprive of the power of resistance, as through terror:
   The sight of the snake fascinated the rabbit.
4. [Obs.] to bewitch.
5. [Obs.] to cast under a spell by a look.

v.i. 

6. to capture the interest or hold the attention.

• Latin fascinātus, past participle of fascināre to bewitch, cast a spell on, verb, verbal derivative of fascinum evil spell, bewitchment
• 1590–1600

fas′ci•nat′ed•ly, adv. 
fas′ci•na′tive, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. bewitch, enchant, spellbind, charm.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

fascinate / ˈfæsɪˌneɪt/ verb (mainly tr)

1. to attract and delight by arousing interest or curiosity: his stories fascinated me for hours
2. to render motionless, as with a fixed stare or by arousing terror or awe
3. to put under a spell

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin fascināre, from fascinum a bewitching

ˌfasciˈnation noun