FASCINATE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does fascinate mean? 

• FASCINATE (verb)
  The verb FASCINATE has 3 senses:

1. cause to be interested or curious

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

3. attract; cause to be enamored

  Familiarity information: FASCINATE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FASCINATE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they fascinate    ... he / she / it fascinates   
Past simple: fascinated   
Past participle: fascinated   
-ing form: fascinating   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cause to be interested or curious

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

fascinate; intrigue

Hypernyms (to "fascinate" is one way to...):

interest; matter to (be of importance or consequence)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "fascinate"):

grab; seize (capture the attention or imagination of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

fascination (the capacity to attract intense interest)

fascination (the state of being intensely interested (as by awe or terror))

Sense 2

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

fascinate; grip; spellbind; transfix

Context example:

The snake charmer fascinates the cobra

Hypernyms (to "fascinate" is one way to...):

interest (excite the curiosity of; engage the interest of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

fascination (the capacity to attract intense interest)

fascination (the state of being intensely interested (as by awe or terror))

Sense 3

Meaning:

Attract; cause to be enamored

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

becharm; beguile; bewitch; captivate; capture; catch; charm; enamor; enamour; enchant; entrance; fascinate; trance

Context example:

She captured all the men's hearts

Hypernyms (to "fascinate" is one way to...):

appeal; attract (be attractive to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "fascinate"):

hold (hold the attention of)

work (gratify and charm, usually in order to influence)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The performance is likely to fascinate Sue

Derivation:

fascination (a feeling of great liking for something wonderful and unusual)

 Context examples 

It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so thoughtful a man.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There is something in it which fascinates me extremely.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He had liked women in that turgid past of his, and been fascinated by some of them, but he had not known what it was to love them.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

If you are single, this solar eclipse could bring someone fascinating to your life unexpectedly and will be someone you will likely want to know better.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

You want nothing but patience—or give it a more fascinating name, call it hope.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

They sat at the table with bodies tense, their eyes fixed in a fascinated gaze upon the murderer.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

When I had finished the bed, I caught myself looking at him in a fascinated sort of way.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

To actually see this happening is fascinating.

(Telescopes Uncover Early Construction of Giant Galaxy, NASA)

Why were the effects of hydrogen so fascinating?

(Asteroids, Hydrogen Make Great Recipe for Life on Mars, NASA)

The first one, tracing the history back to an unknown origin, is so fascinating.

(Swedish academy announces 2019 Nobel Prize winners in physics, Wikinews)