Rapt is an adjective that means being completely absorbed, fascinated, or carried away by something, often to the point of not noticing anything else around you.

Basic meaning

  • Core sense : When someone is rapt, they are so interested or emotionally carried away that their full attention is locked onto one thing.
  • Typical phrase: “rapt attention” describes focused, unwavering attention.
  • Tone: The word is slightly formal or literary, often used in writing, reviews, or descriptions of audiences and listeners.

Usage in sentences

  • “The audience listened with rapt attention during the speech.”
  • “The children sat rapt as the puppets danced on stage.”
  • “She watched the movie with a rapt expression on her face.”

These show that rapt usually describes attention, expressions, or audiences that are deeply engaged.

Origin and related words

  • Origin: The word comes from Latin raptus , meaning “seized” or “carried off,” reflecting the idea that your mind is “carried away” by interest or emotion.
  • Related term: Rapture shares the same root and refers to intense joy or ecstasy, again linked to being mentally or emotionally transported.

Quick nuance check

  • Neutral/positive: Rapt is usually positive, suggesting deep engagement, admiration, or fascination.
  • Common collocations: “rapt attention,” “rapt audience,” “rapt expression,” “rapt in thought.”

TL;DR : Rapt = completely absorbed or fascinated, as in “They listened with rapt attention.”

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