mesmerized
v.v. to be so interested in something that you cannot look away or think about anything else. It often describes being hypnotized by a bright light or a moving object.
v. to be held in a state of intense fascination or trance, typically by a bright light or rhythmic movement. Often used to describe a loss of self-awareness or a fixed gaze.
The children were mesmerized by the flickering fire.
The audience remained mesmerized by the magician's sleight of hand, failing to notice the assistant's subtle movements.
The hikers stood mesmerized by the aurora borealis, their breath visible in the cold air as the green lights danced across the northern horizon.
Derived from mesmerism, a pseudoscientific theory and practiced originating with and named after Franz Anton Mesmer and also known as animal magnetism.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated May 28, 2026