enchant
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɛntʃˈɑːnt/
US
- /ɛnˈtʃænt/
Description
- charm
- delight
- fascinate
To enchant someone is to fill them with delight and wonder, almost like magic is at work. It is more than simply liking something. It is the feeling of being deeply charmed or drawn in by beauty, charm, or a special quality. A lovely song might enchant you, a good story could enchant your imagination, or a warm and charming person might enchant everyone they meet. The word often suggests a gentle, magical pull that makes the experience feel special and hard to forget.
The word "enchant" comes from Old French and originally meant "to put under a spell," and it still carries that sense of magic and wonder today. To enchant someone is to delight them greatly, filling them with pleasure and fascination. It is about creating a feeling of being charmed or deeply drawn in, as if something has cast a spell on you.
You might say a beautiful garden enchants visitors with its vibrant colors and fragrant blooms. A skilled storyteller can enchant an audience with their words, transporting them to another time and place. Or perhaps a charismatic leader enchants followers with their vision and passion.
"Enchant" is not just about beauty or skill, though. It can also describe something that simply makes you feel happy and content. A cozy evening by the fire might enchant you with its warmth and tranquility.
Historically, "enchant" was often used in connection with magic and spells. A sorcerer would enchant an object to give it special powers. While we do not use it that way as much today, the underlying idea of captivating or bewitching remains central to its meaning.
So whether it is through beauty, skill, storytelling, or simple pleasure, to enchant is to fill someone with delight and wonder, leaving them deeply charmed by what they experience.
Examples
- 1
Travel
The tiny seaside village enchanted us from the moment we arrived.
- 2
Social charm
She can enchant a room with nothing more than a quiet smile.
Pattern
enchant someone with + quality/action
make them admire it very much
- 3
Music reaction
I was enchanted by the way the violin and piano played together.
Pattern
be enchanted by + something
feel delighted because of it
- 4
Young readers
The book may enchant younger readers, especially in the first few chapters.
- 5
Formal greeting
"I'm enchanted to meet you," his grandmother said.
Usage
enchanted to meet you
a very polite, slightly old-fashioned greeting
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- enchantverb
Forms
- enchantedpast tenseverb
- enchanting-ing formverb
- enchantsverb