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

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

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith could have retired a long time ago, and their jerseys would go into the rafters immediately. —Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 4 Sep. 2025

For instance, there’s a pirate’s foot hanging from a hammock in the rafters, along with skulls and pirate flags decorating the walls. —Ronny Maye, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025

Point guard Courtney Vandersloot — who returned to the Sky this season — will unquestionably join the pair in the rafters upon her own retirement at some point in the future. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 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