scraped; scraping
1
a
: to remove from a surface by usually repeated strokes of an edged instrument
b
: to make (a surface) smooth or clean with strokes of an edged instrument or an abrasive
2
a
: to grate harshly over or against
b
: to damage or injure the surface of by contact with a rough surface
c
: to draw roughly or noisily over a surface
3
: to collect by or as if by scraping
—often used with up or together
scrape up the price of a ticket
1
: to move in sliding contact with a rough surface
2
: to accumulate money by small economies
3
: to draw back the foot along the ground in making a bow
4
: to make one's way with difficulty : barely manage or succeed
just scraped through at school
working two jobs and barely scraping by
scraper
noun
1
2
a
: the nest of a bird consisting of a usually shallow depression in the ground
b
: a cleared area on the forest floor made by a male deer during breeding season to attract a doe
3
: a bow made with a drawing back of the foot along the ground
4
a
: a distressing encounter
a scrape with death
b
: altercation, fight
Synonyms
Examples of scrape in a Sentence
Verb
Someone had scraped the car with a key.
I scraped one of the chairs while bringing it up the stairs.
I scraped my knee when I fell.
fingernails scraping against a blackboard
the sound of chairs scraping on the floor as people stood to leave
The boat scraped against the edge of the dock.
She scraped her fingernails across the blackboard.
The deer scraped its antlers against the tree.
Scrape the seeds into a bowl.
Scrape the paint from the wood.
Noun
There's a scrape on the fender that wasn't there yesterday.
I got a scrape on my knee when I fell.
We survived the accident with a few minor bumps and scrapes.
She got into a few scrapes with the police when she was younger.
the scrape of fingernails on a blackboard
Recent Examples on the Web
Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2024
Choose a branch close to the ground, scrape some bark from the underside or cut a notch in it, and remove about 5 to 6 inches of the leaves from the spot that will be underground.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2024
Some of the blood had been scraped off the floor and removed from the crime scene, police told CNN.
—Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
The eldest individual who scrapes into the 30-and-under category is salmon magnate Gustav Magnar Witzoe, who was gifted a stake worth nearly half the Salmar ASA business by his father in 2013.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
Kids need to trip over people and ideas, at the risk of scraping up their psyches, in order to learn how to move through the world and how to connect meaningfully with the people in it.
—Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2024
Only 20 people can scrape together a minimally adequate diet.
—Cate Brown, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2024
Fresh out of the University of San Diego, Musselman’s first job was with the Clippers as an account executive in 1987, selling tickets to a team that was scraping the bottom of the NBA standings.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
This list barely scrapes the surface, so please excuse the absence of Howdy Glenn, Stoney Edwards, Bobby Womack, Dona Mason, Kane Brown, Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst Kiah, Miko Marks, Allison Russell, and scores more.
—Stephen Deusner, SPIN, 1 Apr. 2024
Emily Yahr, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
The hiker is stable, with minor injuries from scrapes and bruises.
—Noah Osborne, NBC News, 2 Apr. 2024
Aluminum underbody panels offer extra protection from scrapes and bumps, too.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2024
Derek was thrown underneath the same car and suffered a dislocated wrist, scrapes and bruises.
—Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
Go for lightweight material that can withstand scrapes against rough surfaces without easily ripping.
—Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 27 Mar. 2024
For deer, this can be droppings, tracks, beds, rubs, and scrapes.
—Matthew Every, Field & Stream, 13 Mar. 2024
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, necrotizing fasciitis is a flesh-eating disease caused by a rare bacterial infection, which develops after bacteria enters the body through cuts, scrapes, burns or insect bites.
—Zoe G Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2024
Like its carry-on counterpart, its expandable zipper guarantees extra packing space (up to 1.75 inches' worth) and the 29-inch suitcase's hard-shell exterior will endure any drops, scrapes, and spills from the baggage carousel.
—Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 26 Dec. 2023
Verb
At the beginning of the 1955 novel The Talented Mr. Ripley, as Ripley is moldering in poverty in New York and scraping together a living via petty mail scams, he’s sustained by an illogical faith in his own superiority.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2024
Choose a branch close to the ground, scrape some bark from the underside or cut a notch in it, and remove about 5 to 6 inches of the leaves from the spot that will be underground.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2024
Some of the blood had been scraped off the floor and removed from the crime scene, police told CNN.
—Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
The eldest individual who scrapes into the 30-and-under category is salmon magnate Gustav Magnar Witzoe, who was gifted a stake worth nearly half the Salmar ASA business by his father in 2013.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
Kids need to trip over people and ideas, at the risk of scraping up their psyches, in order to learn how to move through the world and how to connect meaningfully with the people in it.
—Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2024
Only 20 people can scrape together a minimally adequate diet.
—Cate Brown, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2024
Fresh out of the University of San Diego, Musselman’s first job was with the Clippers as an account executive in 1987, selling tickets to a team that was scraping the bottom of the NBA standings.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
This list barely scrapes the surface, so please excuse the absence of Howdy Glenn, Stoney Edwards, Bobby Womack, Dona Mason, Kane Brown, Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst Kiah, Miko Marks, Allison Russell, and scores more.
—Stephen Deusner, SPIN, 1 Apr. 2024
Noun
The characters would be extremely annoyed and then change their tune when her shrewd legal mind repeatedly got them out of scrapes.
—Emily Yahr, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
The hiker is stable, with minor injuries from scrapes and bruises.
—Noah Osborne, NBC News, 2 Apr. 2024
Aluminum underbody panels offer extra protection from scrapes and bumps, too.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2024
Derek was thrown underneath the same car and suffered a dislocated wrist, scrapes and bruises.
—Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
Go for lightweight material that can withstand scrapes against rough surfaces without easily ripping.
—Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 27 Mar. 2024
For deer, this can be droppings, tracks, beds, rubs, and scrapes.
—Matthew Every, Field & Stream, 13 Mar. 2024
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, necrotizing fasciitis is a flesh-eating disease caused by a rare bacterial infection, which develops after bacteria enters the body through cuts, scrapes, burns or insect bites.
—Zoe G Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2024
Like its carry-on counterpart, its expandable zipper guarantees extra packing space (up to 1.75 inches' worth) and the 29-inch suitcase's hard-shell exterior will endure any drops, scrapes, and spills from the baggage carousel.
—Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 26 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scrape.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near scrape
Cite this Entry
“Scrape.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scrape. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scrape
1 of 2 verb
scraped; scraping
1
a
: to remove by repeated strokes of an edged tool
scrape off rust
b
: to clean or smooth by rubbing
2
a
: to rub or cause to rub so as to make a harsh noise
b
: to damage or injure by dragging or rubbing against a rough surface
scraped his knee on the pavement
3
a
: to gather with difficulty and little by little
scrape together a few dollars
b
: to barely get by
scraped through with low grades
scraper
noun
scrape
2 of 2 noun1
a
: the act or process of scraping
b
: a sound, mark, or injury made by scraping
2
: a bow made with a pulling back of the foot
3
a
: a disagreeable situation
b
: altercation, fight
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