to capture attention
23
3.2
- phrasal verb
- To engage the audience, the speaker used stories that would capture attention right from the start.
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Watch on YouTubeWhat kind of things should we show on our show that would capture attention or what kind of things should I stay away from?
- What kind of things should we show on our show that would capture attention or what kind of things should I stay away from?
- I interviewed a dominatrix for one book, the one in pain maybe, and she'd said nothing captures attention like a whip.
- OK, just capture attention right away, then introduce yourself and explain what you're doing once you've got their attention.
Examples
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We urge that students be taught how to assess media reports for accuracy because, as we have pointed out, some media information can be distorted by the need to capture attention.
Academic text (1996) -
Yet switch your marketing around so you capture attention in your new locale.
Blog text (24) -
What kind of things should we show on our show that would capture attention or what kind of things should I stay away from?
-
PR powered by digital makes it easier for organizations to capture attention, create engagement, and influence opinions.
Blog text (23) -
A business cannot succeed simply by capturing attention unless there is another mechanism whereby that attention can be directed to profit.
Blog text (32) -
Typically, you have about two seconds to capture attention as visitors meander through the aisles.
Blog text (18) -
OK, just capture attention right away, then introduce yourself and explain what you're doing once you've got their attention.
-
Moreover, unlike past famines, these food vulnerabilities are not "newsworthy" or impressionistic enough to capture attention.
Academic text (2008) -
The advertisement was designed to capture attention with bright colors and bold text.
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A unique headline can help capture attention and encourage people to read the article.
Synonyms
936
1.9
Make people notice or want something
278
2.0
To get someone's attention or interest
152
2.5
To make people notice something or someone
103
2.7
Attract someone's attention because it is interesting or noticeable
75
3.0
To attract and hold someone's interest or affection
69
1.6
To get someone's attention suddenly and strongly
68
3.5
To attract people or attention
56
3.6
Attract people or attention
52
2.9
To make people notice something important
51
3.4
To attract and hold someone's strong interest or attention
38
2.8
Make someone notice you or something
31
4.5
Make someone feel very impressed and strongly attracted
28
4.2
To attract and hold someone's full attention
26
2.2
To keep someone's attention
23
3.3
Make someone notice something quickly and feel interested
22
6.1
To hold someone's full attention because something is very interesting or surprising
16
3.0
Makes people look and pay attention
16
3.0
To get noticed and make people interested
12
3.8
Grab and hold someone's attention suddenly and strongly
12
8.2
To strongly attract or excite someone
10
3.9
To make people look at or listen to you
6
6.4
To hold someone's full attention as if by magic
5
6.8
To hold someone's full attention by being very interesting
4
4.6
Make someone want to keep watching or reading
2
5.1
To catch and hold someone's attention
2
6.7
Hold someone's full attention so they cannot think of anything else
2
3.8
To make someone feel curious about something and want to know more
1
7.0
To hold people completely interested as if by magic
Make someone notice something
Antonyms
How Engaging
51
3.4
28
4.2
23
3.2
39
3.5
∞
1.0
152
2.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to attract and hold someone's interest or focus' is directly derivable from combining 'capture' (to seize or hold) with 'attention' (mental focus). This is a straightforward verb + noun compositional pattern found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
The phrase capture attention comes from the idea of capture meaning 'to catch' and attention meaning what you notice. Imagine a bright poster catching your eye like a net catching a bird; once your eye is caught, your interest stays, so the phrase means 'to attract and hold someone's interest'.