rafter

1 of 2

noun (1)

raf·​ter ˈraf-tər How to pronounce rafter (audio)
: any of the parallel beams that support a roof
raftered adjective

rafter

2 of 2

noun (2)

raft·​er ˈraf-tər How to pronounce rafter (audio)
1
: one who maneuvers logs into position and binds them into rafts
2
: one who travels by raft

Examples of rafter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The rafters weren’t prepared for trying to row in rhythm over the choppy rapids. Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 7 June 2024 Today, Kidd’s No. 32 jersey still hangs from the St. Joe’s rafters. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 6 June 2024 Warehouses were stuffed to the rafters and short of workers. Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 2 June 2024 The retired Miami Heat legend, whose No. 3 jersey hangs in the rafters at the Kaseya Center, was back in town for a good cause that had nothing to do with basketball. Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 24 May 2024 The Arkansas River fills with snowmelt in late spring and early summer, creating a whitewater playground for rafters, kayakers, and stand-up paddleboarders. Sarah Kuta, The Denver Post, 21 May 2024 Abassi was so thrilled with the response that his tuxedo shirt came untucked from his pants as his jumped up and down, waving to the rafters. Matt Donnelly, Variety, 20 May 2024 Back in February, a crew member on Marvel Studios' Wonder Man died after falling from the rafters on the set. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 14 May 2024 The lobby, which is filled with eclectic furniture, is as ideal for a matcha latte as for a martini; the airy rooms have thoughtful accents, like the wooden swing that hung from the rafters of my spacious suite. David Amsden, Travel + Leisure, 14 May 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rafter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English ræfter; akin to Old Norse raptr rafter

Noun (2)

raft entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1741, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rafter was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near rafter

Cite this Entry

“Rafter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rafter. Accessed 11 Jun. 2024.

Kids Definition

rafter

noun
raf·​ter
ˈraf-tər
: one of the usually sloping timbers that support a roof
raftered
-tərd
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on rafter

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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