What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
attract
Example
The colorful advertisement attracted many customers to the store. [attract: verb]
Example
The beautiful artwork on display attracted a lot of attention from visitors. [attracted: past tense]
captivate
Example
The magician's performance captivated the audience with his incredible tricks. [captivate: verb]
Example
The captivating story in the book kept me hooked until the very end. [captivating: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Attract is more commonly used than captivate in everyday language. Attract is versatile and can be used in various contexts, such as advertising or describing visually appealing things. On the other hand, captivate is less common and is often used in more specific contexts, such as storytelling or describing something truly fascinating.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between attract and captivate?
Both attract and captivate can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, captivate may be perceived as slightly more formal due to its association with storytelling and deeper emotional engagement.
