ravishing

adjective

rav·​ish·​ing ˈra-vi-shiŋ 

: unusually attractive, pleasing, or striking

ravishingly

ˈra-vi-shiŋ-lē 

adverb

Did you know?

ravishing or ravenous?

Ravenous and ravishing are not synonyms, and mixing these two words may lead to potentially awkward writing or conversation. Ravenous is commonly used with the meaning “very eager or greedy for food, satisfaction, or gratification,” and ravishing means “unusually attractive, pleasing, or striking.” If you find yourself hungry and standing in front of a spectacular-looking meal you would say (of the food) “that looks ravishing,” and (of yourself) “I am ravenous.” You may, of course, describe yourself as ravishing, but should be aware that you are commenting on your appearance rather than your hunger.

Synonyms

• aesthetic
• esthetic
• aesthetical
• esthetical
• attractive
• beauteous
• beautiful
• bonny [chiefly British]
• bonnie
• comely
• cute
• drop-dead
• fair
• fetching
• good
• good-looking
• goodly
• gorgeous
• handsome
• knockout
• likely
• lovely
• lovesome
• pretty
• seemly
• sightly
• stunning
• taking
• well-favored

Examples of ravishing in a Sentence

She is a ravishing beauty.

a ravishing view of the ocean

Recent Examples on the Web

But the duo’s approach also began with getting the ravishing visual details of period Japan right. —Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 June 2024

So beautiful it should be signed up by a modelling agency, Mauritius is perhaps the most ravishing island in the Indian Ocean. —James Rampton, theweek, 11 Apr. 2024

The show included a staggering 180 objects, among them beautiful Christian ivory reliefs, bronzes of Black figures, crystal animal sculptures, frescos from a Sudanese church, mosaics that left us randy, and some of the most ravishing illuminated manuscripts ever made. —Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 8 Mar. 2024

For more ravishing shots from Cassini, check out the previous posts here at 80beats or over on Bad Astronomy . —Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 27 Sep. 2010

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ravyschinge "rapacious, rapidly moving, delightful, enchanting," from present participle of ravisshen "to ravish"

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

ravishing

adjective

rav·​ish·​ing ˈrav-ish-iŋ 

: very attractive or pleasing

ravishingly

-iŋ-lē 

adverb