Meaning & use
enchant
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To fill someone with great delight or fascination.
Grammar: Takes an object: The performance enchanted the audience.
Patterns
- enchant someone
- be enchanted by something
The children were enchanted by the puppet show.
Her singing enchanted everyone in the room.
verbtransitiveliterary
To put a magic spell on someone or something.
Grammar: Used in fairy tales and fantasy; takes an object.
Patterns
- enchant someone
- enchant something
The witch enchanted the prince, turning him into a frog.
In the story, the sword was enchanted to never miss its target.
Word forms
| third person singular | enchants |
|---|---|
| past tense | enchanted |
| past participle | enchanted |
| -ing form | enchanting |
Common combinations
- enchant an audience
- The magician enchanted the audience with his tricks.
- be enchanted by
- We were enchanted by the beauty of the old town.
- enchant someone with something
- She enchanted him with her stories.
- enchant a place
- Legend says a fairy enchanted the forest long ago.
Synonyms and how they differ
- captivate
- Similar but often suggests holding someone's attention strongly, as if by charm.
- bewitch
- Stronger and more magical; often used for spells.
- delight
- Focuses on giving pleasure, not necessarily fascination.
Opposites
Word family
- enchantment noun
- A feeling of great delight, or a magic spell.
- enchanter noun
- A person who casts spells, especially in stories.
- enchantress noun
- A female enchanter.
- enchanting adjective
- Very pleasant or charming.
Commonly confused: enchant or enchanted?
enchant vs enchanted
The past tense or adjective form; 'enchant' is the base verb.
Practice
The audience was completely _____ by the young violinist.
Choose one answer.
After 'was' we need the past participle 'enchanted' to form the passive. 'Enchant' is the base form, 'enchanting' is an adjective or -ing form, and 'enchantment' is a noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “enchant”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.