raptly

[ rapt-lee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adverb

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.
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.

Origin of raptly¹

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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