Word
spellbound
Phoneticsspell·bound, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈspɛɫˌbaʊnd/
UK/spˈɛlbaʊnd/
Definition
adj. so interested in something that you cannot look away or stop listening. You feel as if a magic spell is holding your attention.
adj. held in complete, fascinated attention, as if by enchantment. Describes being entirely absorbed by what one sees or hears.
Examples
“The children sit spellbound during the story.”
“The whole class stays spellbound as the teacher describes the volcano eruption in vivid detail.”
“The audience remains spellbound long after the final note fades, unwilling to break the silence that holds the darkened hall together.”
Examples
simple
“The children sit spellbound during the story.”
contextual
“The whole class stays spellbound as the teacher describes the volcano eruption in vivid detail.”
complex
“The audience remains spellbound long after the final note fades, unwilling to break the silence that holds the darkened hall together.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “spellbound” in context.
Verb
01. hold spellbound
“Her voice held the entire hall spellbound for over an hour.”
verb + adj
02. keep spellbound
“A good teacher knows how to keep a class spellbound.”
verb + adj
03. leave spellbound
“The finale left the crowd spellbound and silent.”
verb + adj
04. sit spellbound
“They sat spellbound as the documentary revealed the deep ocean.”
verb + adj
Adjective
05. absolutely spellbound
“The audience was absolutely spellbound throughout the two-hour opera.”
adv + adj
06. completely spellbound
“We were completely spellbound by the magician's final trick.”
adv + adj
Noun
07. spellbound audience
“The pianist performed to a spellbound audience in Vienna.”
adj + noun
08. hold an audience spellbound
“She can hold an audience spellbound with just her voice.”
09. leave the crowd spellbound
“The acrobats left the crowd spellbound with their finale.”
10. listen spellbound to every word
“We listened spellbound to every word of her story.”
11. remain spellbound throughout
“The hall remained spellbound throughout the performance.”
12. sit spellbound in silence
“The students sat spellbound in silence during the demonstration.”
Usage
Often used predicatively after linking verbs such as 'sit', 'stand', or 'remain'.
Etymology
From spell + bound.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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