spellbound.

Held under a spell, or so fascinated that attention cannot turn away.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• remain spellbound
• spellbound audience
• stand spellbound

On the page

The spellbound guards watched the gate open without raising an alarm.

Children sat spellbound as the veteran described a sky full of dragons.

She remained spellbound until the cracked bell struck dawn.

Usage notes

Primary category: fantasy. Distinguish literal magical control from figurative absorption; it does not necessarily mean frightened. Adjective: spellbound; normally non-gradable when literally held under a spell, with more spellbound and most spellbound possible for figurative absorption. Also the irregular past and past participle of spellbind. Associated verb forms [base, third-person singular, past, past participle, -ing]: spellbind, spellbinds, spellbound, spellbound, spellbinding.