ravish

verb

rav·​ish ˈra-vish How to pronounce ravish (audio)
ravished; ravishing; ravishes

transitive verb

1
a
: to seize and take away by violence
b
: to overcome with emotion (such as joy or delight)
ravished by the scenic beauty
2
ravisher noun
ravishment noun

Examples of ravish in a Sentence

invaders guilty of murdering and ravishing villagers travelers have long been ravished with wonder and awe by the immensity of the Great Pyramid at Giza
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The core of the show – largely shot in ravishing Sicilian locations – revolves around patriarch Don Fabrizio, who is faced with a difficult choice. Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 25 Feb. 2025 Knight was out there looking ravishing in a wedding dress, and not a single longing look from Palmer? Sara Netzley, EW.com, 4 Feb. 2025 Gonzalez-Ramirez was discovered after snowfall ravished the region several days earlier. Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 29 Jan. 2024 It was nominated for seven Oscars, including picture, art direction, and costume, and won for Dario Marianelli’s score—but many will remember most Knightley’s ravishing green silk dress in a pivotal scene. Radhika Seth, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ravish

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ravisshen "to seize forcefully, plunder, carry away, carry off (a woman) in order to sexually assault her, seize as prey, carry up (into heaven), enrapture, sweep along," borrowed from Anglo-French raviss-, stem of ravir (also continental Old & Middle French), going back to Vulgar Latin *rapīre, re-formation of Latin rapere "to seize and carry off, take away by force, carry off a woman with the intent of sexually assaulting her, carry or sweep along, impel forcibly (to a course of conduct), snatch up, gather quickly" — more at rapid entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of ravish was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ravish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ravish. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

ravish

verb
rav·​ish ˈrav-ish How to pronounce ravish (audio)
1
: to seize and take away by violence
2
3
: to overcome with a feeling and especially a feeling of joy or delight
ravisher noun

Legal Definition

ravish

transitive verb
rav·​ish ˈra-vish How to pronounce ravish (audio)
: rape
ravishment noun
Etymology

Middle English, to seize and take away by violence, from Middle French raviss-, stem of ravir, ultimately from Latin rapere to seize, rob

More from Merriam-Webster on ravish

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