captive

Examples

• All

• You always worked best with a captive audience.

  Late Night (2019)

• Because the audience was captive and polite, I kept on expounding.

  Academic text (1991)

• Well, thousands of captive audience, right?

• Every show had a captive audience.

  Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)

• In short, it was almost as good as having a captive audience.

  Academic text (1996)

• Captive audience, how could you fail?

  Super Zeroes (2012)

• You've got a captive audience.

  The Fantastic Four (1994)

• Do you believe that students comprise a captive audience for such companies?

  Academic text (2008)

• Schools have large, captive audiences of adolescents and provide a natural learning environment that can reinforce positive messages.

  Academic text (2005)

• The magician had his audience completely captive with his amazing tricks.

Synonyms

W

wrapped up

vscaptive

• Informal

62 4.8

Very interested and completely involved in something

is the neutral expression for the same deep attention level

I

intent

vscaptive

54 4.9

Giving full attention to something

is the broader state of deep absorption rather than a deliberate focus

G

glued to

vscaptive

• Informal

24 4.5

So interested that you cannot stop watching or listening

is deep attention but does not require physical inability to look away

R

rapt

vscaptive

• Formal

11 7.5

Fully focused and very interested in something

is similar but neutral about delight, focusing on complete attention

S

spellbound

vscaptive

7 5.2

So interested that you cannot stop watching or listening

is the same deep attention but without the magical feeling

E

engrossed

vscaptive

1 4.5

Paying all your attention to something because you are very interested

is the general idea of giving complete, deep attention rather than specific examples

F

fascinated

vscaptive

1 2.1

Very interested and unable to stop paying attention

is similar but framed neutrally, not stressing attraction

E

entranced

vscaptive

1 5.8

Amazed and very happy so you cannot look away

is about deep absorption without the strong wonder or amazement

H

hypnotized

vscaptive

• US

1 5.3

Your attention is fixed as if under a spell

is deep attention without suggesting a trance or spell

A

absorbed

vscaptive

3.6

Giving all your attention to something and not noticing other things

is the broad label for that deep, whole attention rather than one usage

W

wrapped

vscaptive

• Informal

4.1

Giving full attention to something

is the general state of deep attention, not tied to mental images

E

enwrapped

vscaptive

7.6

Deeply focused on something and not aware of other things

is the broad, less poetic description of total attention

E

engaged

vscaptive

3.4

Giving full attention to an activity or idea

is more about pure deep attention rather than mere busyness

C

captivated

vscaptive

3.9

Very interested and pleased so you cannot stop watching or listening

is about deep attention without implying charm or emotion

M

mesmerized

vscaptive

• US

6.0

Unable to look away because something is very interesting

is similar but lacks the implied trance or spell effect

T

transfixed

vscaptive

6.7

Unable to look away and to move because you feel very surprised or amazed

is full attention without implying inability to move or look away

Antonyms

U

unengaged

1 4.4

Not busy and able to help with other tasks

D

distracted

3.1

Not able to pay attention because your mind is on other things

Compounds

C

captive finance company

• Specialized

6.1

Company owned by a maker that gives loans to dealers or buyers to buy its products

How Absorbed

spellbound

7 5.2

rapt

• Formal

11 7.5

engrossed

1 4.5

captive

16 4.4

engaged

3.4

attentive

61 3.0

interested

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology