enrapture

IPA/ɪnˈræptʃə(r)/
KK[ɛnrˈæptʃɚ]IPA/ɪnˈræptʃər/

enrapture — verb

  • enrapturepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • enraptureshe / she / it
  • enrapturedpast simple
  • enrapturing-ing form

1. to cause someone to experience a very deep and overwhelming sense of joy, often

1.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to cause someone to experience a very deep and overwhelming sense of joy, often while watching or listening to something beautiful or moving.

Example

The audience was enraptured by the soprano's flawless performance at the opera house.

passive: be enraptured by [performance]

Wei sat enraptured as the sun set behind the old temple, painting the sky gold.

enraptured as [clause] describing simultaneous scene

Common collocations
  • enraptured audience
  • enraptured by the beauty
  • enraptured with delight
  • sit enraptured
  • listen enraptured
Synonyms
  • enthrall

    similar intensity, often used for performances or stories that hold attention

  • captivate

    more common and slightly less intense; can apply to everyday situations

  • transport

    emphasises the feeling of being carried away emotionally; very literary

  • enchant

    suggests a magical or delightful quality, softer than enrapture

Antonyms
  • repel

    to cause strong dislike or disgust, the opposite emotional effect

  • disenchant

    to cause someone to lose their good feelings about something

Grammar Patterns

enrapture + object

be enraptured by/with + noun phrase

Usage Note

Frequently used in the passive voice (be enraptured by/with). This word has a formal, literary feel and is less common in everyday conversation. The active form (X enraptures Y) is rarer and tends to appear in artistic or elevated writing.

Common Mistakes

The movie enraptured me so much I fell asleep.
The movie captivated me so much I stayed up all night watching it.
'enrapture' implies very strong positive emotion; using it in a negative or neutral context sounds unnatural.
I was enraptured with my new phone.
I was thrilled with my new phone.
'enrapture' is too strong and literary for everyday objects; use it for art, nature, or deeply moving experiences.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe a strong positive emotional response, but they differ in intensity and usage. 'Enrapture' is the most intense, implying a near-spiritual or overwhelming joy, typically reserved for profound aesthetic or emotional experiences (a symphony, a sunset, a moving story). 'Enthrall' focuses on holding attention completely, like a gripping novel or a compelling speaker. 'Captivate' is the most versatile and commonly used — you can be captivated by a person, an idea, or a film. 'Enchant' has a softer, more magical quality, suggesting gentle delight. 'Transport' is the most literary, suggesting being mentally carried away to another state. For example: 'The children were enraptured by the dancer's grace,' but 'The detective story enthralled him for hours,' and 'She was enchanted by the tiny cottage in the woods.'

enthrall ↗captivate ↗enchant ↗transport ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • sit enraptured
  • listen enraptured
  • watch enraptured

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Formed in English from the prefix en- (meaning 'to cause to be' or 'to put into') and the noun rapture (from Latin raptus, 'a carrying away, snatching'). The word rapture itself traces back through French to Latin rapere, 'to seize or carry off'. So enrapture literally means 'to cause someone to be carried away with joy.' First recorded in English in the early 1600s.