raptly
Americanadverb
-
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.
Etymology
Origin of raptly
First recorded in 1640–50, for an earlier sense; rapt ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The big party stopped for a while and everyone listened raptly.
From Salon • Aug. 23, 2024
The jury then listened raptly as former Daniels attorney Keith Davidson described how annoying he found the man from their very first interaction in 2011.
From Slate • May 14, 2024
Phil, from 1962 to 1978, he always had the raptly beautiful sounds of the Vienna Philharmonic in his mind, as heard in the city’s glorious concert hall, the Musikverein.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2023
Soon they’re as raptly absorbed in each other’s moves as we are in this uplifting musical.
From Washington Post • Oct. 24, 2022
April put her arms down stiffly along her sides and with her eyes closed she tilted her Egyptian face upward raptly.
From "The Egypt Game" by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
