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

• ecstasy
• heaven
• joy
• happiness

Verb

• delight
• entrance
• transport
• carry away
• enthral
• satisfy
• enrapture
• please

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

Multiple people have thrown their support behind Mhlakela’s theory, with several of them promising to apologize to their followers on social media if the rapture failed to happen. —Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025

If the rapture were to occur, many Americans say they’d be left behind, according to new polling. —Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2025

Verb

Meanwhile, nonbelievers create humorous content, featuring videos of empty clothes draped over furniture or laid out on the street, suggesting they were abandoned by those who were raptured. —Jordan Green, Nashville Tennessean, 23 Sep. 2025

The movie follows Patty Myers (Patty Dunning), a casual Christian belonging to a theologically liberal church who's left behind after millions are raptured. —Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 2025

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

Rhymes for rapture

• capture
• recapture

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