rapture

1 of 2

noun

rap·​ture ˈrap-chər 

1

: an expression or manifestation of ecstasy or passion

2

a

: a state or experience of being carried away by overwhelming emotion

b

: a mystical experience in which the spirit is exalted to a knowledge of divine things

3

often capitalized : the final assumption of Christians into heaven during the end-time according to Christian theology

rapturous

ˈrap-chə-rəs 

ˈrap-shrəs

adjective

rapturously adverb

rapturousness noun

rapture

2 of 2

verb

raptured; rapturing; raptures

transitive verb

1

: to fill with joy : enrapture

How buoyant his heart! and so melted with tender thoughts, so raptured with imaginings!

—Baynard Rush Hall

An entire generation is raptured by the Netflix original, "Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness."

—Rachel Mckenzie

2

: to cause (a Christian believer) to be taken up into heaven during the end-time

He clearly and persuasively argues from Scripture that Christians … will be raptured …

—Octavio Paz

The whole chapter is Paul's exhortation concerning Christ's resurrection. … He talks about those who will not die but be changed (raptured) and receive their glorified bodies.

—Tara Wentworth

… the faithful would have a reward better than eternal life after death. They'd skip death entirely, raptured …

—Joshua Rivera

Synonyms

Noun

• cloud nine
• ecstasy
• elatedness
• elation
• euphoria
• exhilaration
• heaven
• high
• intoxication
• paradise
• rhapsody
• seventh heaven
• swoon
• transport

Verb

• carry away
• enrapture
• enthrall
• enthral
• entrance
• rap
• ravish
• transport

Choose the Right Synonym for rapture

ecstasy, rapture, transport mean intense exaltation of mind and feelings.

ecstasy and rapture both suggest a state of trance or near immobility produced by an overpowering emotion.

ecstasy may apply to any strong emotion (such as joy, fear, rage, adoration).

religious ecstasy

rapture usually implies intense bliss or beatitude.

in speechless rapture

transport applies to any powerful emotion that lifts one out of oneself and usually provokes vehement expression or frenzied action.

in a transport of rage

Examples of rapture in a Sentence

Noun

We listened with rapture as the orchestra played.

He listened to the wind in the trees, his eyes closed in rapture.

Verb

nature lovers will be raptured by the documentary's breathtaking cinematography

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Editor’s picks The 100 Best TV Episodes of All Time The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time 25 Most Influential Creators of 2024 The crowd in Queens is in complete rapture during the Marley brothers’ performance. —Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2024

In some circles, his death row writing was greeted with rapture. —Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2024

Verb

Yet Mendes mostly sees a cheap, useful instrument in Deakins—a shortcut to rapture. —A.a. Dowd, Chron, 8 Dec. 2022

Monk’s story is peppered with supernatural details, talk of evil spirits and unaccountable noises, and even an extremely old nun who may or may not rapture herself to heaven daily. —Mike Mariani, Slate Magazine, 22 Mar. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Noun

rapt + -ure; (sense 3) probably after the use of rapere in the Vulgate (1 Thessalonians 4:17) to translate Greek harpázein "to take hold of, seize, snatch up"

Verb

derivative of rapture entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1636, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rapture

• rapture of the deep

Kids Definition

rapture

noun

rap·​ture

ˈrap-chər

: a strong feeling of joy, delight, or love

rapturous

-chə-rəs

-shrəs

adjective

rapturously adverb

rapturousness noun