rapt

Examples

• All

• The audience sat in rapt attention as the speaker shared her inspiring story.

• "I listened in rapt attention as these bits of gossip rolled off Mama's tongue."

  Fiction book (1994)

• Edward sat with rapt attention, listening to his son and expressing great pride in him.

  Academic text (2004)

• He seemed rapt, transported to another world.

  Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951)

• Listening to this, the people of Halloweenland are absolutely spellbound, rapt, and quiet for a change.

  Fiction book (1993)

• Koren listened with rapt attention, pointing her machine at Dad, recording his words.

  Fiction book (1998)

• The students participate eagerly, listen with rapt attention, and ask intriguing questions.

  Academic text (2005)

• Auel imagines our Ice Age forebears listening with rapt attention to everything from current gossip to ancient legend.

  Academic text (2002)

• Jan paused, noting that Sarah's face was rapt, her eyes sparkling in the light from the camp stove.

  Fiction book (1995)

• Edward Steichen recalled the "rapt attention" with which Guatemalan peasants gazed at his traveling exhibition.

  Academic text (2002)

Synonyms

F

fascinated

vsrapt

170 2.1

Very interested and unable to stop paying attention

is similar but can refer more to calm attention than attraction

I

intent

vsrapt

84 4.9

Giving full attention to something

is more about emotional fascination rather than mere concentration

M

mesmerized

vsrapt

• US

26 6.0

Unable to look away because something is very interesting

is like this but without implying an artificial trance

A

absorbed

vsrapt

23 3.6

Giving all your attention to something and not noticing other things

adds a stronger emotional delight component to that full focus

C

captivated

vsrapt

19 3.9

Very interested and pleased so you cannot stop watching or listening

is closer to general absorption rather than mainly emotional pull

E

enthralled

vsrapt

16 6.9

Very interested and full of wonder, unable to look away

is equally absorbed but with slightly less emotional charm

T

transfixed

vsrapt

16 6.7

Unable to look away and to move because you feel very surprised or amazed

is comparable but generally involves active pleasure rather than immobility

E

engrossed

vsrapt

14 4.5

Paying all your attention to something because you are very interested

is more emotionally charged rather than merely involved

E

entranced

vsrapt

10 5.8

Amazed and very happy so you cannot look away

is comparable but can include quieter, calm delight instead of amazement

H

hypnotized

vsrapt

• US

9 5.3

Your attention is fixed as if under a spell

is similar but usually lacks the sense of an induced trance

S

spellbound

vsrapt

8 5.2

So interested that you cannot stop watching or listening

is similar but may be more natural fascination than magic like hold

E

enraptured

vsrapt

• Literature

5 7.2

Full of great joy and wonder

is like this but can be less swept away by joy

B

beguiled

vsrapt

1 7.7

You feel charmed and full of wonder

is more about inner absorption than being charmed by someone

E

enrapt

vsrapt

• Literature

1 7.8

Feeling great joy and deep interest

is similar but shows strong focus without such overpowering joy

E

enwrapped

vsrapt

1 7.6

Deeply focused on something and not aware of other things

is similar but often emphasizes emotional delight more clearly

Antonyms

D

distracted

185 3.1

Not able to pay attention because your mind is on other things

How Absorbed

rapt

• Formal

11 7.5

fascinated

170 2.1

absorbed

23 3.6

engaged

126 3.4

interested

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology