# rapture

/ˈɹæptʃɝ/ (US) · /ɹˈæptʃɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rapture
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a feeling of extreme happiness, pleasure, or excitement. You use this to describe being completely carried away by a wonderful emotion.

For teachers: a state of intense pleasure, joy, or enthusiasm. Often used in literary or religious contexts to describe being overwhelmed by a positive experience.

## Examples

- The audience listened to the music in total rapture.
- She gazed at the sunset in rapture, completely forgetting the long hike that had brought her there.
- The poet describes the rapture of the soul when it finally achieves a moment of perfect clarity and connection with the natural world.

## Usage notes

- Often follows the preposition 'in' to describe a person's emotional state.

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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.