What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
captivated
Example
She was captivated by the beautiful sunset, unable to take her eyes off it. [captivated: adjective]
Example
The audience was captivated by the magician's incredible tricks. [captivated: past tense verb]
fascinated
Example
He was fascinated by the history of ancient civilizations. [fascinated: past tense verb]
Example
The children were fascinated by the colorful marine life at the aquarium. [fascinated: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Fascinated is more commonly used than captivated in everyday language. Fascinated is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while captivated is less common and carries a stronger connotation of being deeply engrossed or enchanted.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between captivated and fascinated?
Both captivated and fascinated can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, captivated may lean slightly more towards a formal tone due to its stronger emotional connotation.
