What does rapture mean?
Rapture is an intense, almost overwhelming feeling of joy, delight, or emotional transport. It is typically more expressive and literary than words such as happiness or pleasure, suggesting an experience so powerful that it leaves the person absorbed, astonished, or unable to contain the emotion. The phrase “in raptures” is particularly familiar, while singular uses such as “a moment of rapture” emphasize the suddenness or intensity of the experience. Rapture can also describe being completely overcome by wonder, love, beauty, or enthusiasm, as in being “in rapture” over a piece of music or a spectacular view. Although now chiefly formal or poetic, the word derives from the same Latin idea of seizure that underlies rapt and rapacious, reflecting its sense of being carried away by an experience. It is especially useful when ordinary positive words would make a strong emotional moment sound understated.
An intense feeling of joy, delight, or ecstasy, especially one that overwhelms ordinary emotional restraint.
"The news filled him with rapture."
Chiefly literary or formal; often used in the plural in the expression “in raptures.”
To be in a state of rapture; to experience overwhelming joy or enthusiasm.
"The audience raptured at the final scene."
Rare and chiefly literary.
The plural is especially common in the idiomatic phrase “in raptures,” meaning “in a state of intense joy or delight.”
"The young children were in raptures over the puppets."
Rapture began with the language of legal seizure: Latin raptura meant “a seizing” before English turned it into an image of overwhelming joy.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does rapture come from?
English borrowed the word in the late Middle English period from Old French raptur(e), meaning “seizure” or “transport.” Its ultimate source is Latin raptura, a noun derived from rapere, “to seize” or “carry off.” The semantic development toward overwhelming joy reflects the idea of being emotionally seized or carried away, and the word shares this Latin root with related English forms such as rapt, rapturous, rapacious, and rapide.
Related word forms
How rapture is actually used
Rapture is more literary and elevated than everyday alternatives such as delight or joy. The expression “in raptures” is especially common and usually conveys ecstatic joy or enthusiasm.