raw

1 of 2

adjective

ˈrȯ 

rawer ˈrȯ(-ə)r  ; rawest ˈrȯ-əst 

1

: not cooked

2

a(1)

: being in or nearly in the natural state : not processed or purified

raw fibers

raw sewage

(2)

: not diluted or blended

raw spirits

b

: unprepared or imperfectly prepared for use

c

: not being in polished, finished, or processed form

raw data

a raw draft of a thesis

3

a(1)

: having the surface abraded or chafed

(2)

: very irritated

a raw sore throat

b

: lacking covering : naked

c

: not protected : susceptible to hurt

raw emotions

4

a

: lacking experience or understanding : green

a raw recruit

b(1)

: marked by absence of refinements

(2)

: vulgar, coarse

raw language

c

: not tempered : unbridled

raw power

5

: disagreeably damp or cold

a raw winter day

rawly adverb

rawness noun

raw

2 of 2

noun

: a raw place or state

Phrases

in the raw

1

: in a natural, unrefined, or crude state

2

: naked

slept in the raw

Synonyms

Adjective

• uncooked

Noun

• altogether
• bareness
• birthday suit
• bottomlessness
• buff
• nakedness
• nude
• nudity

Choose the Right Synonym for raw

rude, rough, crude, raw mean lacking in social refinement.

rude implies ignorance of or indifference to good form; it may suggest intentional discourtesy.

rude behavior

rough is likely to stress lack of polish and gentleness.

rough manners

crude may apply to thought or behavior limited to the gross, the obvious, or the primitive.

a crude joke

raw suggests being untested, inexperienced, or unfinished.

turning raw youths into polished performers

Examples of raw in a Sentence

Adjective

He entered the raw data into a spreadsheet.

The shoes rubbed my heels raw.

His throat was raw from the cold air.

Noun

a secluded swimming hole where we could swim in the raw

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The agency also says the dairy industry shouldn't manufacture or sell raw milk or raw milk products, including cheese made with raw milk, from any cows showing symptoms of illness or exposed to other cows that have bird flu. —Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024

Sambora asks in his first appearance, which is positioned almost like a cliffhanger at the end of episode one — the series is more respectful than raw. —Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Apr. 2024

Regardless of the decade, her suffering heart and caressing vocals united artists unafraid of the rawest emotions. —Holly Gleason, Variety, 24 Apr. 2024

Bright yellow mustard cut through with acidity and chopped, raw onions sank into each bite for a welcome textural contrast. —Ben Jarrell, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2024

One rule of thumb is to release analytical judgments but not the underlying raw intelligence on which they are based. —David V. Gioe, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024

And yet, while perception and raw numbers showed a slight drop-off from his 2022 season, analytics show Williams made strides in a number of key areas heading into the NFL. —Luca Evans, Orange County Register, 23 Apr. 2024

The harder moments including the ones with dark clouds convey the raw emotions and mood of that grieving process. —Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2024

The indie-rock tunes mix with orchestral interludes, synth drones, field recordings, found sounds from nature or the city streets, all full of raw emotion. —Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2024

Noun

These ones turn out amazing—topped with sugar in the raw. —Bon Appétit Contributor, Bon Appétit, 22 Mar. 2024

So, here’s NFL moneyball in the raw. —Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2022

Raw beef stored above raw shelled eggs, crab and shrimp. —Ebony Day, azcentral, 4 Mar. 2020

Several open pans of raw shelled eggs stored directly above ready-to-eat leafy greens in cooler. —Ebony Day, azcentral, 15 Jan. 2020

Employee cracked a raw shelled egg with gloved hands then handled a clean plate and kitchen utensils without washing hands between tasks. —Ebony Day, azcentral, 25 Dec. 2019

Tim RoneyGetty Images Her 1995 raw, ragey, best-selling album, Jagged Little Pill, spoke to a generation—and inspired a musical of the same name, opening on Broadway this month. —Alanis Morissette, Marie Claire, 8 Nov. 2019

Cooked rice, dosa batter, Biryani, sauces, chicken, shredded cabbage, milk, yogurt and raw shelled eggs not kept cold enough. —Ebony Day, azcentral, 19 June 2019

Cartons of raw shelled eggs and tofu at improper temperature. —Ryan Santistevan, azcentral, 9 May 2018

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English hrēaw; akin to Old High German hrō raw, Latin crudus raw, cruor blood, Greek kreas flesh

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1823, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing raw

• a raw deal
• in the raw
• raw bar
• raw deal
• raw material
• raw score
• touch/strike/hit a raw nerve

Kids Definition

raw

1 of 2 adjective

ˈrȯ 

rawer ˈrȯ(-ə)r  ; rawest ˈrȯ-əst 

1

: not cooked

a raw carrot

2

a

: being in or nearly in the natural state : not processed or purified

raw milk

raw sewage

b

: not in a finished, organized, or polished form

the raw edge of a seam

raw data

3

a

: having the surface scraped or roughened

raw red hands

b

: very sore or irritated

a raw throat

4

: not trained or experienced

a raw recruit

5

: unpleasantly damp or cold

a raw wind

rawly adverb

rawness noun

raw

2 of 2 noun

: a raw place or state