air raid

noun

Synonyms of air raidnext
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But the harsh realities of war are never far as events sometimes are paused during air raid alerts when people move to shelters. Flora Bigham, ABC News, 19 Apr. 2026 The boat sails from Genoa in complete darkness, a precaution against air raids. Marcy Thompson, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2026 Four years ago Natalia Bozhko sat in a basement, listening to air raid sirens, as tanks rumbled through the streets of Kyiv. Mariia Yastreba, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2026 But the government holds its own annual drills, known as Han Kuang, which include urban defense scenarios, such as how to take cover during an air raid, administer first aid and respond to disaster at public sites, like major supermarket chains or the Taipei metro. Michelle Kuo, The Dial, 14 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for air raid

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of air raid was in 1909

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Air raid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/air%20raid. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

air raid

noun
: an attack by armed airplanes on a surface target

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