fascinate
gb/fˈæsənˌeɪt/ us/fˈæsənˌeɪt/
B2
English
~ 8900
lenyűgöz, lebilincsel, elbűvöl, megbabonáz, megigéz
VERB
B2
1
lenyűgöz
B2
lebilincsel
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] fascinates [someone]
Astronomy fascinates her because it helps explain how the universe began.
A csillagászat lenyűgözi, mert segít megérteni, hogyan keletkezett a világegyetem.
The way children learn languages never fails to fascinate scientists.
Az, ahogyan a gyerekek nyelveket tanulnak, mindig lenyűgözi a tudósokat.
True-crime podcasts fascinate millions of listeners around the world.
The history of this city continues to fascinate tourists and locals alike.
His detailed stories about life at sea completely fascinated the students.
Learner examples
Space and stars fascinate many people.
Az űr és a csillagok sok embert lenyűgöznek.
Computers fascinated him when he was a child.
Gyerekkorában lenyűgözték a számítógépek.
The movie fascinated the children, and they sat very still.
Dinosaurs fascinate my little brother.
Science books fascinate her, so she reads them every day.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse the subject and object. We say "Math fascinates me" (math = subject, me = object), not *"I fascinate math." Another common mistake is using "fascinate" when they only mean "like" or "be interested in". "Fascinate" is stronger, used when interest is very high or lasting. Also watch the -ed / -ing forms: "I am fascinated by animals" (correct) vs. *"I am fascinating by animals" (incorrect).
Meaning
to strongly interest someone
Collocations
absolutely fascinate
|continue to fascinate
|never fails to fascinate
|fascinate the public
|fascinate audiences
|fascinate children
Synonyms
intrigue (Suggests strong curiosity, often because something is mysterious or hard to understand.)
|
absorb (Focuses on taking all someone’s attention, often for a period of time, not always because it is amazing.)
|
engross (Emphasizes being so focused that you ignore everything else; slightly more formal than "fascinate.")
Antonyms
bore (Means to make someone feel tired or uninterested, the opposite of strongly attracting attention.)
|
put off (Means to make someone not want to think about or be involved with something; opposite of drawing them in.)
Themes
emotions
|communication
|education
|art
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make someone very interested so they watch or think about something for a long time.
To attract and hold someone’s attention very strongly, often because something is unusual, complex, or very interesting.
VERB
B2
2
elbűvöl
B2
megbabonáz
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone]/[something] fascinates [someone]
The dancer’s graceful movements fascinated the audience into complete silence.
A táncos kecses mozdulatai annyira elbűvölték a közönséget, hogy mindenki teljesen elcsendesedett.
The city’s night lights fascinated him as he looked out from the plane window.
A város éjszakai fényei elbűvölték, amikor kinézett a repülőgép ablakán.
Her quiet confidence fascinated everyone who met her.
The strange, silent landscape fascinated the photographer.
The tiger’s slow, powerful walk fascinated the crowd at the zoo.
Learner examples
The fire in the dark room fascinated the children.
A sötét szobában lobogó tűz elbűvölte a gyerekeket.
Her voice fascinated him, and he could not stop listening.
A hangja megbabonázta, és képtelen volt abbahagyni a hallgatását.
The beautiful colors in the sky fascinated us.
The magic show fascinated the crowd.
The baby’s big eyes fascinated the old man.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use this sense for very small or normal interest, where "like" or "be interested in" is better. This sense suggests a strong emotional pull or charm, not just simple interest. Also, avoid saying *"fascinate with" as a verb pattern (e.g. *"She fascinated me with her dress"); more natural is "She fascinated me" or "Her dress fascinated me."
Meaning
to strongly attract or charm
Collocations
fascinate the audience
|fascinate viewers
|fascinate the imagination
|visually fascinate
|deeply fascinate
Synonyms
captivate (Very close in meaning; often used for beauty, performance, or personality that holds attention like a charm.)
|
enchant (Stronger sense of magic or beauty; can sound more literary or romantic than "fascinate.")
|
mesmerize (Suggests almost hypnotic power, so someone cannot look away or think of anything else.)
Antonyms
repel (Means to strongly push someone away or disgust them, the opposite of attracting them powerfully.)
|
leave cold (An informal phrase meaning not to affect or interest someone at all; opposite of strongly attracting them.)
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|art
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make someone feel very strongly attracted and unable to look away or stop thinking about a person or thing.
To attract someone in a very strong, almost spell-like way, so that they feel deeply drawn to a person, object, or scene.
VERB
C1
LITERARY
3
megbabonáz
B2
megigéz
C1
Usage pattern:
[someone]/[something] fascinates [someone]
In the old tale, the sorcerer could fascinate his enemies with a single glance.
A régi mesében a varázsló egyetlen pillantással meg tudta babonázni az ellenségeit.
The cobra seemed to fascinate its prey, holding the small bird frozen in place.
Úgy tűnt, a kobra megbabonázta a zsákmányát: a kis madár dermedten a helyén maradt.
Legends told of a queen whose eyes could fascinate anyone who looked into them.
Learner examples
In the story, the witch fascinates the prince with her eyes.
A történetben a boszorkány a szemével megbabonázza a herceget.
The snake fascinates the mouse so it cannot run away.
A kígyó megbabonázza az egeret, így az nem tud elmenekülni.
The old book says the king can fascinate people with magic.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this sense is rare and mostly appears in old stories, fantasy, or poetic language. In normal modern speech, use "fascinate" in the general sense of "strongly interest" or "strongly attract," not for real magic.
Meaning
to bewitch or put under a spell
Collocations
fascinate like a snake
|seem to fascinate
|fascinate prey
Synonyms
bewitch (Emphasizes magical control or charm, often in fantasy or historical settings.)
|
spellbind (Suggests holding people as if by a magic spell, often used for performances or stories in a literary style.)
Antonyms
release (Means to set someone free from control, the opposite of holding them under a spell-like power.)
Themes
literature
|fantasy
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make someone feel or act as if you used magic on them, so they cannot move or look away.
(Now mainly literary) To control or fix someone as if by magic or a spell, so they cannot move or look away.
Grammar
Dictionary form
fascinate
IPA
GB/fˈæsənˌeɪt/
US/fˈæsənˌeɪt/
Syllables & stress
fas - cin - ate (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (fas)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: fascinate
- 3rd Person Singular: fascinates
- Present Participle: fascinating
- Past: fascinated
Word family
Forms
Core family
fascination
noun B2
Related words
fascinatingly
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
unfascinating
adjective
unfascinated
adjective
Expressions
be fascinated by
1/bˈi fˈæsənˌeɪtɪd bˈaɪ/
fixed phrase
to be very interested in something
To feel very interested in something or someone so that you want to know or see more.
Examples
- As a child, she was fascinated by insects and kept them in small jars to study them.
- Many people are fascinated by stories of lost cities and hidden treasure.
- He is fascinated by how quickly technology is changing our lives.
be fascinated with
1/bˈi fˈæsənˌeɪtɪd wˈɪθ/
fixed phrase
to feel a deep attraction to something
To feel a strong, often long-lasting interest or attraction to something or someone.
Examples
- She has always been fascinated with languages and wants to learn at least five.
- The artist is fascinated with light and shadow in his paintings.
- Children are often fascinated with dinosaurs and other ancient animals.