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

The Turf, like the Miners an institution for generations that is now known around the world thanks to the Welcome to Wrexham documentary, was among those hostelries packed to the rafters. —Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025

Boos rained down from the rafters as if the Las Vegas Raiders blew a playoff game. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2025

The six-time All-Star put 40 points on the board in a 132-109 opening night win against New York after collecting his championship ring and raising Banner 18 to the TD Garden rafters. —Bobby Krivitsky, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025

Ruth Asawa in the living room of her home in the Noe Valley neighborhood of San Francisco around 1995, with clusters of her looped wire sculptures dangling from the rafters. —Hilarie M. Sheets, New York Times, 4 Apr. 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