rafter

1 of 2

noun (1)

raf·​ter ˈraf-tər 

: any of the parallel beams that support a roof

raftered

ˈraf-tərd 

adjective

rafter

2 of 2

noun (2)

raft·​er ˈraf-tər 

1

: one who maneuvers logs into position and binds them into rafts

2

: one who travels by raft

Examples of rafter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

From up in the rafters, a single spotlight coldly blazed. —James Parker, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025

Waterfalls emerge from the rafters gushing down onto the floor of the theater as the stage below slides away to reveal a pool. —Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025

The buzzer barely finished echoing when white steam burst from the back of the backboard and purple streamers tumbled from the Chase Center rafters onto the cheering fans below. —Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025

At Camp La Junta, an all-boys camp in Kerr County, Texas, several campers were placed on their cabin’s wooden beam rafters by camp counselors to escape the rising floodwaters below. —Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English ræfter; akin to Old Norse raptr rafter

Noun (2)

raft entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1741, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rafter

• after
• drafter
• laughter
• hereafter
• thereafter
• hereinafter
• thereinafter

Kids Definition

rafter

noun

raf·​ter

ˈraf-tər

: one of the usually sloping timbers that support a roof

raftered

-tərd

adjective