# raping

/ˈɹeɪpɪŋ/ (US) · /ɹˈeɪpɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/raping
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. committing sexual assault

verb · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 2. the act of sexual violation

noun · CEFR B2

the crime of forcing someone to have sex.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The man was raping the woman in the alley.
- The police arrested the suspect for raping his neighbour last week.
- The legal definition of raping has evolved to focus on consent rather than just physical force, reflecting a deeper understanding of bodily autonomy.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.