enchant

verb

en·​chant in-ˈchant How to pronounce enchant (audio)
en-
enchanted; enchanting; enchants

transitive verb

1
: to influence by or as if by charms and incantation : bewitch
2
: to attract and move deeply : rouse to ecstatic admiration
the scene enchanted her to the point of tearsElinor Wylie
Choose the Right Synonym for enchant

attract, allure, charm, captivate, fascinate, enchant mean to draw another by exerting a powerful influence.

attract applies to any degree or kind of ability to exert influence over another.

students attracted by the school's locale

allure implies an enticing by what is fair, pleasing, or seductive.

an alluring smile

charm implies the power of casting a spell over the person or thing affected and so compelling a response

charmed by their hospitality

, but it may, like captivate, suggest no more than evoking delight or admiration.

her performances captivated audiences

fascinate suggests a magical influence and tends to stress the ineffectiveness of attempts to resist.

a story that continues to fascinate children

enchant is perhaps the strongest of these terms in stressing the appeal of the agent and the degree of delight evoked in the subject.

hopelessly enchanted by her beauty

Examples of enchant in a Sentence

The book has enchanted children for almost a century. The beauty of the place enchants.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Vara, like many of her readers, is both enchanted by the web and disgusted with the companies that control it. Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2025 Effusive red fruit intertwined with notes of rose oil immediately enchants with fresh crunchy fruit on the palate with complex notes of asphalt and tobacco leaf that has incredible precision on the finish with a long-expression of aromatics. Cathrine Todd, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025 There were those around the program enchanted by the notion of hiring a younger coach who might fully come into his own in College Park, as Dusty May did at Michigan this year. Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 1 Apr. 2025 The Europeans were enchanted by the expressive fluency that the New York critics had considered vulgar. David Denby, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for enchant

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French enchanter, from Latin incantare, from in- + cantare to sing — more at chant

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of enchant was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Enchant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enchant. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

enchant

verb
en·​chant in-ˈchant How to pronounce enchant (audio)
1
: to influence by charms and magic : bewitch
2

More from Merriam-Webster on enchant

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