Word
raping
Phoneticsrap·ing
US/ˈɹeɪpɪŋ/
UK/ɹˈeɪpɪŋ/
Definitions
01committing sexual assault
v. forcing someone to have sex when they do not want to.
v. the act of committing a sexual assault involving non-consensual penetration. Transitive — requires a direct object.
“The news report focused on the trauma of the victims and the process of catching the person responsible for raping them.”
“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.
Teaching tip
This is a highly sensitive and serious term; use it only in legal, medical, or news contexts when discussing sexual crimes.
Synonyms
02the act of sexual violation
n. the crime of forcing someone to have sex.
n. the occurrence or act of non-consensual sexual violation. Often used as a gerund to describe the action as a concept.
“The documentary discussed the long-term psychological effects of raping on survivors.”
“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.
Teaching 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.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“The attacks abruptly stopped in 1978 when Thomas was sent to prison for raping an older Pasadena woman.” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/raping