raze

verb

razed; razing

transitive verb

1
: to destroy to the ground : demolish
raze an old building
2
a
: to scrape, cut, or shave off
b
archaic : erase
razer noun

Examples of raze in a Sentence

an entire city block razed by a terrible fire the developer razed the old school building and built a high-rise condominium complex
Recent Examples on the Web In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Anglo settlers took over the land and razed the shell mound to line roadbeds in Berkeley with shells. Olga R. Rodriguez, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2024 The old County Stadium was eventually razed to make way for parking and a smaller, Little League-size ballfield, Helfaer Field. Eva Wen, Journal Sentinel, 6 Mar. 2024 The village of Lakeview in rural Montcalm County is expected buy the land on which the shuttered Spectrum Health Kelsey Hospital is situated for $1 after the hospital is razed. Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 23 Feb. 2024 In December, local fears were confirmed when a barge razed sections of coral on its way to the construction site on the reef. Daniel Cole, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Feb. 2024 The orchard was ultimately razed, too, according to the lawsuit. Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 15 Feb. 2024 The latest work at Seaport Village comes as the port continues to advance a multi-billion-dollar proposal that would raze the seaside retail center entirely and remake surrounding areas. Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Feb. 2024 But most of the resplendent old churches, pagodas, and monasteries were now derelict shells or razed to the ground—the Khmer Rouge had demolished many places of worship. Chantha Nguon, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2024 But that alliance didn't keep it from being razed by papal mercenaries, and by 1400, the monastery was all but abandoned. Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 25 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'raze.' 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

alteration of rase

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of raze was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near raze

Cite this Entry

“Raze.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/raze. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

raze

verb
razed; razing
: to destroy completely by knocking down or breaking to pieces : demolish
razed the building

More from Merriam-Webster on raze

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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