ravish

verb

rav·​ish ˈra-vish 

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

c

: rape entry 1 sense 1

2

: plunder, rob

ravisher noun

ravishment

ˈra-vish-mənt 

noun

Synonyms

• delight
• enthral
• please
• enrapture
• fascinate
• satisfy
• enchant
• enthrall
• entrance
• transport
• rapture
• carry away

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

Slim Aarons took images of bronzed, oily bodies and ravishing clifftop meals. —Richard Godwin, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2025

Across their first three albums, Durand Jones & The Indications have delved into sounds from decades past to create a fusion of heartbreaking jazz, ravishing soul and electrifying disco. —Taylor Mims, Billboard, 23 June 2025

In both his fiction, including the ravishing short-story collection Maggie Brown & Others, and his essays, Orner mulls over his experiences growing up Jewish in Chicago and its North Shore suburbs, a milieu rife with struggle, longing, anger, secrets, lies, and love. —Donna Seaman june 18, Literary Hub, 18 June 2025

News of the project, a sweeping romance that plays out in the shadow of World War I, first reached us back in 2020; it would be penned by Ben Shattuck, from his ravishing short story of the same name. —Radhika Seth, Vogue, 22 May 2025

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

Rhymes for ravish

• lavish

Kids Definition

ravish

verb

rav·​ish ˈrav-ish 

1

: to seize and take away by violence

2

: rape sense 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 

: 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