# captive

/ˈkæptɪv/ (US) · /kˈæptɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/captive
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a prisoner

noun · CEFR B2

a person who has been captured and is being kept as a prisoner.

For teachers: a person who is held in confinement or under the control of another, typically during a war or conflict.

- The soldiers released the captive after the peace treaty was signed.
- The humanitarian organisation negotiated for months to ensure the safe return of every captive held behind enemy lines.

### 2. held prisoner

adjective · CEFR B2

kept as a prisoner or not allowed to go where you want.

For teachers: held in confinement or restrained from liberty; often used to describe an audience that has no choice but to listen.

- The passengers were a captive audience for the pilot's long stories.
- The zoo was criticised for keeping large mammals in a captive environment that failed to mimic their natural roaming grounds.

### 3. charmed or fascinated

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

feeling very attracted to or interested in someone or something.

For teachers: metaphorically subdued or enthralled by beauty, affection, or excellence.

- He stood captive to her beauty from the moment they met.
- The young poet remained captive to the rugged beauty of the cliffs, returning every summer to find fresh inspiration.

### 4. to capture

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic

an old word meaning to catch or take someone as a prisoner.

For teachers: to take someone into confinement or to capture them. This verbal form is now largely replaced by 'capture' or 'captivate' in modern contexts.

- The knight sought to captive his enemies during the great battle.
- In the ancient chronicles, it is written that the king did captive the rebels and held them in the high tower for many years.

## Examples

- The soldiers released every captive after the peace deal.
- The zoo keepers ensured the captive animals had enough space to move and play in their enclosures.
- While the treaty secured the return of every military captive, the psychological impact of their long confinement required years of specialized support and community reintegration.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.