ENGLISH
REFERENCE

raping

v. · n.
US //ˈɹeɪpɪŋ// UK //ɹˈeɪpɪŋ// rap·ing
  1. 1 committing sexual assault (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Law

    forcing someone to have sex when they do not want to.

    the act of committing a sexual assault involving non-consensual penetration. Transitive — requires a direct object.

    Example

    The news report focused on the trauma of the victims and the process of catching the person responsible for raping them.

    Example

    The prosecution presented DNA evidence to prove that the defendant was responsible for raping the victim on the night in question.

    Usage

    As a verb, it always takes a direct object representing the person who was attacked.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a highly sensitive and serious term; use it only in legal, medical, or news contexts when discussing sexual crimes.
  2. 2 the act of sexual violation (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Law

    the crime of forcing someone to have sex.

    the occurrence or act of non-consensual sexual violation. Often used as a gerund to describe the action as a concept.

    Example

    The documentary discussed the long-term psychological effects of raping on survivors.

    Example

    The statute was amended to broaden the legal definition of raping to include a wider range of non-consensual acts.

    Usage

    Can be used as an uncountable noun when discussing the crime in general.

    Teacher's tip

    Learners often confuse the spelling of this word with 'rapping' (hitting or hip-hop music); ensure the single 'p' is noted to avoid unintended offensive meanings.

Last updated June 20, 2026