air raid

noun

: an attack by armed airplanes on a surface target

—usually hyphenated when used attributively

air-raid shelter

Examples of air raid in a Sentence

Much of the city was destroyed in an air raid.

Recent Examples on the Web

On Sunday morning there was a strong smell of smoke in the city, one said, and an air raid alert was still in place. — Daria Tarasova-Markina, CNN Money, 19 July 2026

Israel’s military said on Sunday that Iranian missiles launched toward the Jordanian port city of Aqaba just across the border could spill over, warning people to expect the first air raid sirens in weeks. — Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026

Several explosions were heard shortly after midnight in the capital, before authorities issued an air raid alert. — ABC News, 8 July 2026

Visitors received multiple air raid alert notifications on their phones throughout the weekend. — Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for air raid

• afraid
• allayed
• arcade
• arrayed
• assayed
• barmaid
• betrayed
• blockade
• bridesmaid
• brigade
• brocade
• buffeted

Kids Definition

air raid

noun

: an attack by armed airplanes on a surface target