raptly

[ rapt-lee ]

adverb

1. with the attention completely engaged; in a way that shows deep absorption in something:

   It was a story of courage and hope that kept me reading raptly until the final page.

2. with intense joy or delight; blissfully; ecstatically:

   It was a moment to meditate, look raptly at the night sky, and be overcome by the awesomeness of the universe.

Word History and Origins

Origin of raptly¹

First recorded in 1640–50, for an earlier sense; rapt ( def ) + -ly ( def )

Example Sentences

On a summer day in 2013, Leila Strickland sat, rapt, in front of her laptop and watched on screen as Mark Post unveiled the first lab-grown hamburger.

From MIT Technology Review

A rooster can strike fear into an opponent, and a relative novice can hold the country rapt as it snags the spotlight for what likely won’t be the final time.

From FiveThirtyEight

Investors, employees, and the entire entertainment industry will be paying rapt attention.

From Fortune

Raptly, they drink in the cunningly arranged open floor plan.

From The Daily Beast

He cleared his throat and his eyes wandered, raptly, as of old, into the dim vastness of the rafters.

From Project Gutenberg

Cordelia listened to him, contented and happy—listened almost raptly, as though she was making the most of her day.

From Project Gutenberg

Annapla thought her diminutive admirer adorable; she stood raptly gazing on him, with her dish-clout dripping on the floor.

From Project Gutenberg

All her attention was focused raptly on that bed beside the wall.

From Project Gutenberg

Orsino had listened raptly to the words and joined in a burst of spontaneous applause that swept around the table.

From Project Gutenberg