ravish

verb

rav·​ish ˈra-vish 

ravished; ravishing; ravishes

transitive verb

1

a

: to seize and take away by violence

b

: to overcome with emotion (such as joy or delight)

ravished by the scenic beauty

c

: rape entry 1 sense 1

2

: plunder, rob

ravisher noun

ravishment

ˈra-vish-mənt 

noun

Synonyms

• assault
• force
• rape
• violate

Examples of ravish in a Sentence

invaders guilty of murdering and ravishing villagers

travelers have long been ravished with wonder and awe by the immensity of the Great Pyramid at Giza

Recent Examples on the Web

More than a dozen comedians and musicians are coming together to support Los Angeles following the devastating wildfires that claimed at least 25 lives and ravished tens of thousands of acres in January. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2025

Texas officials announced the first measles death in the U.S. in a decade Wednesday, a grim milestone in the ongoing outbreak ravishing Texas and nearby New Mexico. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025

This season, however, is different as injuries to key players, including Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs, have ravished the roster of a team that’s now below .500. —Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2025

The core of the show – largely shot in ravishing Sicilian locations – revolves around patriarch Don Fabrizio, who is faced with a difficult choice. —Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 25 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ravisshen "to seize forcefully, plunder, carry away, carry off (a woman) in order to sexually assault her, seize as prey, carry up (into heaven), enrapture, sweep along," borrowed from Anglo-French raviss-, stem of ravir (also continental Old & Middle French), going back to Vulgar Latin *rapīre, re-formation of Latin rapere "to seize and carry off, take away by force, carry off a woman with the intent of sexually assaulting her, carry or sweep along, impel forcibly (to a course of conduct), snatch up, gather quickly" — more at rapid entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for ravish

• lavish

Kids Definition

ravish

verb

rav·​ish ˈrav-ish 

1

: to seize and take away by violence

2

: rape sense 2

3

: to overcome with a feeling and especially a feeling of joy or delight

ravisher noun

Legal Definition

ravish

transitive verb

rav·​ish ˈra-vish 

: rape

ravishment noun

Etymology

Middle English, to seize and take away by violence, from Middle French raviss-, stem of ravir, ultimately from Latin rapere to seize, rob