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

The messages posted on Ukraine’s public air raid app late on Sunday claimed that the capital Kyiv and other areas were subject to nuclear ⁠and chemical alerts as well as the threat of street combat. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2026

In a region where there are no paved roads, no running water and no electricity, there are, unsurprisingly, no such entities as air raid sirens or anti-aircraft systems. — Arkansas Online, 31 Oct. 2026

The Saudi civil defense reported air raid alerts in Riyadh and Kharj province southeast of the capital. — Mark Osborne, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

But my friend says—three air raid alarms during the screening, and after each all-clear, the story was rewound ten minutes. — Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 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