rivet
verb/ˈrɪvɪt/
/ˈrɪvɪt/
[usually passive]Verb Forms
Idioms | present simple I / you / we / they rivet | /ˈrɪvɪt/ /ˈrɪvɪt/ |
| he / she / it rivets | /ˈrɪvɪts/ /ˈrɪvɪts/ |
| past simple riveted | /ˈrɪvɪtɪd/ /ˈrɪvɪtɪd/ |
| past participle riveted | /ˈrɪvɪtɪd/ /ˈrɪvɪtɪd/ |
| -ing form riveting | /ˈrɪvɪtɪŋ/ /ˈrɪvɪtɪŋ/ |
- to hold somebody’s interest or attention so completely that they cannot look away or think of anything else
- be riveted (by something) I was absolutely riveted by her story.
- be riveted on somebody/something My eyes were riveted on the figure lying in the road.
- Public attention was riveted on this topic on both sides of the Atlantic.
- be riveted to something The film keeps you riveted to the screen.
Extra ExamplesTopics Feelingsc2- He started to speak, and everyone was riveted to him.
- People were absolutely riveted as she described what happened.
- Public attention was riveted on this topic on both sides of the Atlantic.
- The portrait on the wall riveted her attention.
- rivet something to fasten something with rivets
- The steel plates were riveted together.
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French, from river ‘fix, clinch’, of unknown ultimate origin.
Idioms
See rivet in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionaryglued/riveted/rooted to the spot
- not able to move, for example because you are frightened or surprised
- I stood riveted to the spot with terror.
Check pronunciation:
rivet