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
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.
At the museum, a peephole and headphones allow visitors to see and hear an old air raid siren used on Morris Field. Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 26 June 2025 But there was an initial missile salvo from Iran early this morning Israel time, just as the sun was coming up and air raid sirens wailed. Nbc News, NBC news, 25 June 2025 Early Monday morning, the network star was in the middle of conversation with CNN’s chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward and Jerusalem correspondent Jeremy Diamond when air raid sirens signaled an imminent threat in the area. Shania Russell, EW.com, 23 June 2025 Despite the dramatic nature of the air raid, few in Washington expressed an appetite for a prolonged U.S. war with Iran and echoed Israel’s interest in a truce after deeming its initial operations a success. Michael Wilner, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2025 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 8 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

air raid

noun
: an attack by armed airplanes on a surface target

More from Merriam-Webster on air raid

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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