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Synonyms

rapturous

American  
[rap-cher-uhs] / ˈræp tʃər əs /

adjective

  1. full of, feeling, or manifesting ecstatic joy or delight.

  2. characterized by, attended with, or expressive of such rapture.

    rapturous praise.


rapturous British  
/ ˈræptʃərəs /

adjective

  1. experiencing or manifesting ecstatic joy or delight

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of rapturous

First recorded in 1670–80; rapture + -ous

Explanation

If you're blissfully happy, you're rapturous. You could describe your purring cat rolling around in catnip as rapturous. The adjective rapturous is great for describing someone who's delighted, like the rapturous excitement of a room full of teenagers at their favorite pop star's concert, or the rapturous look on a child's face when she opens her birthday present and finds exactly what she had hoped for. The root word of rapturous is the Latin raptus or "a carrying off," and until the mid-1600s, that's exactly what rapture was used to mean.

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Vocabulary lists containing rapturous

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.

See Examples For:

In contrast to Wilson's take, the latest adaptation has received rapturous reviews from film critics.

From BBC Jul. 28, 2026

NBA star Kyrie Irving walked out onto a basketball court in southwest China to rapturous applause, his brightly coloured Chinese-made sneakers a vivid statement of domestic sportswear brands' increasing global reach.

From Barron's Jul. 3, 2026

That redemption arc was met with rapturous applause.

From Slate May 20, 2026

A rapturous feeling takes over the room, as if all of the disparate identities and backgrounds came together in spiritual tune — the cluster having finally risen.

From Los Angeles Times May 18, 2026

My heart poured out a rapturous reply, but my mouth was still filled with the sticky remains of bun and it never reached my lips.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

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