rapture 1 of 2

noun

ˈrap-chər How to pronounce rapture (audio)
Definition of rapturenext
as in ecstasy
a state of overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion in The Nutcracker Clara gazes in rapture as the Christmas tree grows before her very eyes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rapture

2 of 2

verb

as in to delight
to fill with overwhelming emotion (as wonder or delight) nature lovers will be raptured by the documentary's breathtaking cinematography

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word rapture distinct from other similar nouns?

The words ecstasy and transport are common synonyms of rapture. While all three words mean "intense exaltation of mind and feelings," rapture usually implies intense bliss or beatitude.

in speechless rapture

How do ecstasy and rapture relate to one another?

Ecstasy and rapture both suggest a state of trance or near immobility produced by an overpowering emotion; ecstasy may apply to any strong emotion (such as joy, fear, rage, adoration).

religious ecstasy

When might transport be a better fit than rapture?

In some situations, the words transport and rapture are roughly equivalent. However, transport applies to any powerful emotion that lifts one out of oneself and usually provokes vehement expression or frenzied action.

in a transport of rage

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rapture
Noun
Such critical rapture would bring her to the Eighth Academy Awards as a nominee for Best Actress alongside Bette Davis and Katharine Hepburn. — Mayukh Sen, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2025 My own rapture required merely a table set with sonic objects. — Christian Wiman, Harper's Magazine, 2 Aug. 2024
Verb
Dispensationalism has an offensive reputation among many Jews because the End Times prophecy outlines an event in which Jews suffer mass slaughter while Christian believers are spared because God raptured them. — Liam Adams, The Tennessean, 22 Nov. 2024 Yet Mendes mostly sees a cheap, useful instrument in Deakins—a shortcut to rapture. — A.a. Dowd, Chron, 8 Dec. 2022 See All Example Sentences for rapture
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rapture
  1. ecstasy
  2. delight
  3. heaven
  4. entrance
  5. joy
  6. transport
  7. happiness
  8. carry away
Noun
  • Earlier, Waters is seen in a spasm of ecstasy after the aspiring lifestyle guru shows an intensely yellow egg yolk that came from one her famous rescue chickens.
    — Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2025
  • When searching him and his car, police found a loaded 9 mm handgun on the driver’s side floorboard and 16 grams of ecstasy in his possession, the release said.
    — Naperville Sun, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025
Definition of ecstasy
Verb
  • Make Time for Tea Next door, Draper Blooms Tea Garden delights with a formal tea service that features scrumptious finger sandwiches, vanilla scones, seasonal jams, and bite-size sweets, like brownies and breads.
    — Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Gentle Great Dane Meeting New Baby Brother By Alyce Collins Life and Trends Reporter Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member news article 0 A toddler's adorable bond with his Great Dane companion has delighted the internet, showing that every boy needs a four-legged friend.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of delight
Noun
  • So if the seemingly changing motions of the heavens could be predicted, maybe earthly events could be, too.
    — James Byrne, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Every minute of every day, our cars and phones look to the heavens for guidance.
    — Luis E. Romero, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of heaven
Verb
  • That so much night could exist within a city, flooding the side-streets and massing in secluded courtyards, entranced me.
    — Hazlitt, Hazlitt, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Her hypnotic voice conjured up scenes reminiscent of Isabella Rossellini’s entrancing lounge singer performance from the David Lynch film Blue Velvet.
    — Paul Chi, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2025
Definition of entrance
Noun
  • But as one top seed was declared, then another, then another, a different feeling crept over the group than the joy that filled the room this time last year.
    — Austin Knoblauch, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2025
  • That idea—of a grand continuum, in which the circumstances change but all of our big human feelings (heartache, joy, unease, panic, contentment) remain the same, across time and vast distances—felt germane to her new songs.
    — Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of joy
Verb
  • Cleanup spanned over the course of many years and at its peak, over 410 trucks were transporting debris to landfills every day.
    — Alex Gurley, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025
  • The officers rendered medical aid to the men until paramedics arrived and transported them to a hospital, where they were later pronounced dead.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of transport
Noun
  • Stephanie Harrison is the founder of The New Happy, an organization advancing a new philosophy of happiness.
    — Stephanie Harrison, Contributor, CNBC, 15 Mar. 2025
  • For much of her youth, Natalie, 38, of New York, wasn't sure what happiness looked like for her.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of happiness
Verb
  • When the writing is so good and the performances around you are so good, you do get carried away with it.
    — Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Mar. 2025
  • Another key lesson is to stay focused and not get carried away by external pressure.
    — Felicity Carter, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of carry away

Browse Nearby Words

raptorial
rapture
raptured
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rapture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rapture. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on rapture

Nglish: Translation of rapture for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
burrowing owl athene cunicularia tilts its head outside its burrow on marco island florida
Guess the Curious Origins of These Everyday Words Oh, that’s where that comes from…
See All