rapture

[ rap-cher ]

noun

1. ecstatic joy or delight; joyful ecstasy.

   Synonyms: exaltation, transport, beatitude, bliss

   Antonyms: misery

2. Often raptures. an utterance or expression of ecstatic delight.
3. the carrying of a person to another place or sphere of existence.
4. the Rapture, Theology. the experience, anticipated by some fundamentalist Christians, of meeting Christ midway in the air upon his return to earth.
5. Archaic. the act of carrying off.

verb (used with object)

, rap·tured, rap·tur·ing.

1. to enrapture.

rapture

/ ˈræptʃə /

noun

1. the state of mind resulting from feelings of high emotion; joyous ecstasy
2. often plural an expression of ecstatic joy
3. the act of transporting a person from one sphere of existence to another, esp from earth to heaven

verb

1. archaic.
   tr to entrance; enrapture

Other Words From

• rapture·less adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rapture¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; rapt + -ure

Word History and Origins

Origin of rapture¹

C17: from Medieval Latin raptūra , from Latin raptus rapt ¹

Synonym Study

See ecstasy.

Example Sentences

Despite the operatic odds in this work, the lovers provided consuming rapture.

From Los Angeles Times

"We experience the staggering magnitude of stardom Elton achieved, the candy rapture of his music, right along with the anxiety and hollowness he was feeling," he wrote.

From BBC

Why do you center the politics and white identity politics of evangelicals, and not so much their theological beliefs in things like the rapture?

From Salon

In some circles, his death row writing was greeted with rapture.

From Los Angeles Times

She has worked, effortfully, to capture the voice and the pose, even if the film fails her in terms of rapture.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• communion
• contentment
• ecstasy
• elation
• euphoria
• exaltation
• exhilaration