spell ‧ bound /ˈspelbaʊnd/ BrE AmE adjective
extremely interested in something you are listening to:
‘King Lear’ still holds audiences spellbound.
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THESAURUS
■ so interested that you give something all your attention
▪ absorbed/engrossed in something [not before noun] very interested in something, so that you give it all your attention and do not notice anything else:
Jane was lying on the sofa engrossed in a novel.
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She was so absorbed in her own thoughts that she didn't hear me call.
▪ gripped/riveted [not before noun] very interested, especially in a story you are reading, a film you are watching etc, so that you are eager to find out what happens next:
It was a brilliant book and I was gripped from beginning to end.
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I was so riveted by the film that I forgot the time.
▪ enthralled written very interested and enjoying something very much, so that you want to see or hear more:
From the opening line of the play, the audience was completely enthralled.
▪ spellbound [not before noun] written extremely interested in something very strange or wonderful, so that you are unable to move or think of anything else:
He could hold audiences spellbound with the power of his voice.
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They all listened, spellbound.
▪ rapt formal showing by your expression that you are very interested in something and are giving all your attention to it:
He spoke before a rapt audience.
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The congregation listened with rapt attention.
▪ be all ears informal to be extremely interested in what someone is telling you:
Tell me exactly what happened. I'm all ears.