Enthrall is often used in passive structures with by. In active clauses, with can introduce the thing that fascinates people.
Use be enthralled by to say what fascinates someone: We were enthralled by the film. In active sentences, enthrall someone with something is also natural: The speaker enthralled the audience with her stories.
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
By is common in passive structures after enthralled.
Use with in active clauses for the stories, ideas, or performances that fascinate people.
Enthrall can directly take an object without another preposition.
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
In active sentences, with is usually preferred for the thing causing fascination.
✕ She enthralled the audience by her voice. ✓ She enthralled the audience with her voice.Enthrall can take a direct object without another preposition.
✕ The film enthralled to me. ✓ The film enthralled me.Use by after enthralled in passive clauses.
✕ We enthralled by the concert. ✓ We were enthralled by the concert.Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
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Enthralled by is the standard passive pattern. Enthralled with exists but is less common and can sound more emotional or personal.
Yes. You can say The performance enthralled the audience.
Yes. Enthrall is more formal and literary than fascinate or captivate.
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