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captivate

[/ˈkæp.tɪ.veɪt/]
verb
cativar
1. to attract and hold the attention or interest of someone in a compelling way
The magician's performance captivated the entire audience.
O desempenho do mágico cativou toda a audiência.
2. to charm or enchant someone
She was captivated by his charm and intelligence.
Ela foi cativada pelo seu charme e inteligência.
3. to take or hold prisoner; to capture
The enemy forces captivated the soldiers during the battle.
As forças inimigas capturaram os soldados durante a batalha.
NYC Slang
hook someone
Synonyms
enchantcharmfascinateenthrallmesmerizebeguile
Antonyms
borerepeldisenchantdisplease

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
cativar
most common usage across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
cativar
standard usage, may be enhanced with colloquial expressions
São Paulo
cativar
standard usage in formal and informal contexts
Portugal
cativar
standard usage; also 'conquistar' in some contexts

Related Idioms & Phrases

captivate someone's heart
be captivated by someone/something
hold someone captive
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