rapt

adjective

ˈrapt 

1

: lifted up and carried away

2

: transported with emotion : enraptured

3

: wholly absorbed : engrossed

raptly

ˈrap(t)-lē 

adverb

raptness

ˈrap(t)-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• ecstatic
• elated
• elevated
• enrapt
• enraptured
• entranced
• euphoric
• exhilarated
• giddy
• heady
• intoxicated
• rapturous
• rhapsodic
• rhapsodical

Examples of rapt in a Sentence

The students listened with rapt attention.

The children sat rapt as the puppets danced.

Recent Examples on the Web

From the side of the room, Angela Milhouse listened with rapt attention. —Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 9 July 2024

Who is this man, who in one performance had The Tonight Show audience totally rapt and Jimmy Fallon backstage speaking Punjabi? —Sucharita Tyagi, Vox, 3 July 2024

While Vogue World returned to Paris for its third year, with a rapt crowd gathered at the Place Vendôme, across the Atlantic, our no-less-stylish Vogue Club members crisscrossed Lower Manhattan. —Vogue Club, Vogue, 26 June 2024

The songs shined broken down to their spare elements, bringing the rapt audience close to tears. —Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 2 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "carried off (of a soul to heaven)," borrowed from Latin raptus, past participle of rapere "to seize and carry off, take away by force, carry or sweep along" (Medieval Latin also "to carry away [a soul to heaven]") — more at rapid entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

rapt

adjective

ˈrapt 

: showing complete delight or interest

listened with rapt attention

raptly

ˈrap-(t)lē 

adverb

raptness

ˈrap(t)-nəs 

noun