Captive is a word with more than one meaning. It can describe someone or something that is held or confinedkept within limits or enclosed in a restricted place, and it can also describe a person or animal that has no freedomthe state of being able to act or move without restriction. In a different sense, it can mean fully absorbed or fascinatedvery interested and unable to stop paying attention by something.
The section above was reviewed by a man
Captive Meaning
so interested or focused that you notice little else
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: fully absorbed in something; giving complete attention to it
Example: The audience was captive to the speaker’s story from the first minute.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- absorbed — Works well for being mentally focused on something.
- engrossed — A strong natural substitute for being completely absorbed.
- intent — Can fit this sense, though it is less common in everyday use.
The section above was reviewed by a man
Other Meanings of Captive
Meaning 2
a person who is held and not free to leave
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
Example: The soldiers were held as captives for several months.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- prisoner — A direct and natural synonym in this sense.
Meaning 3
held or kept from freedom
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: being in captivity
Example: The captives were moved to a guarded facility.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- confined — Works when the meaning is being held in one place.
- imprisoned — A close synonym when someone is kept as a captive.
- jailed — Usually used for being in jail, so it is less general than imprisoned.
Meaning 4
an animal kept from moving freely
Part of speech: noun
Definition: an animal that is confined
Example: The zoo animal is not a wild creature; it is a captive.
Meaning 5
someone strongly controlled by an emotion
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a person held in the grip of a strong emotion or passion
Example: He was a captive of fear and could not think clearly.
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Captive Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- absorbed
- engrossed
- intent
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
- prisoner
being in captivity
- confined
- imprisoned
- jailed
The section above was reviewed by a man
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse captive the adjective meaning ‘absorbed’ with captive the noun meaning ‘a prisoner’ or ‘something held in captivity.’
- Captive is not a good general synonym for ‘free,’ ‘wild,’ or ‘voluntary.’
- Jailed is narrower than captive and usually refers specifically to being in jail.
The section above was reviewed by a man
Frequently Asked Questions
What does captive mean in everyday English?
Most often, captive means fully absorbed or fascinated by something, or it means a person or animal that is being held and is not free.
Is captive a noun or an adjective?
It can be both. As an adjective, it can mean absorbed or held in captivity. As a noun, it means a confined person or animal.
What is the closest synonym for captive?
That depends on the sense. For the ‘absorbed’ meaning, absorbed and engrossed are close. For the ‘confined person’ meaning, prisoner is the closest match.
The section above was reviewed by a man