captive
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
He has designed and installed small concrete shelters for them in the lake itself, and set up his own captive population in a greenhouse at his home in Llanarth.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
Circled by a verdant reproduction of an enchanted forest, and dressed in a black swan-like two-piece by Ann Demeulemeester, Zardoya held the audience captive with her purring soprano and vampy stare.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026
In a separate order, the top court on Tuesday ordered tighter welfare safeguards for India's more than 2,600 captive elephants, including ensuring medical records for each animal and regular health checks.
From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026
Many are what researchers call "captive pedestrians" - people who walk not by choice but because they cannot afford another option.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026
It is hard to take a captive panda—one that’s been dependent on humans its whole life—erase that dependency, and replace it with an unfamiliar self-sufficiency.
From "Camp Panda" by Catherine Thimmesh
“It’s using earthquake data to interpret North Korean nuclear tests,” said Eric Lebson, chief strategy officer of a nonprofit called Global Reach that focuses on American captives abroad and is working with Chen’s family.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
One sculpture transforms the European hero Robin Hood into an African bandit queen who raided slave traders and freed their captives.
From Salon ● Apr. 26, 2026
But somewhere along the line, economics was all but consumed by math, and things everybody had always known—that humans are fickle, emotional, bad at reasoning, captives of their prior mistakes, etc.—were forgotten or cast aside.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 26, 2025
Twenty living hostages and the remains of 24 deceased captives have been released, with four bodies remaining in Gaza.
From BBC ● Nov. 11, 2025
The captives ate at their own table in the Hall of a Hundred Hearths, and could often be seen about the grounds.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
Vocabulary lists containing captive
"Hitching a Ride"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Beowulf vocabulary
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
“Vaccine Controversy Shows Why We Need Markets, Not Mandates” by Ron Paul
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
