raid

1 of 2

noun

ˈrād 

1

a

: a hostile or predatory incursion

b

: a surprise attack by a small force

2

a

: a brief foray outside one's usual sphere

b

: a sudden invasion by officers of the law

c

: a daring operation against a competitor

d

: the recruiting of personnel (such as faculty, executives, or athletes) from competing organizations

3

: the act of mulcting public money

4

: an attempt by professional operators to depress stock prices by concerted selling

raid

2 of 2

verb

raided; raiding; raids

intransitive verb

: to conduct or take part in a raid

transitive verb

: to make a raid on

Synonyms of raid

Noun

• invasion
• incursion

Verb

• invade
• attack

Examples of raid in a Sentence

Noun

They launched a raid against the enemy.

Weapons were also seized during the drug raid.

They caught five smugglers in the raid.

Verb

The village was raided often by neighboring tribes.

Police raided the house and found drugs.

Federal agents raided the warehouse, seizing stolen property and arresting five smugglers.

She raided her sister's closet to find something to wear to the party.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Armed groups, known as bandits in Nigeria, regularly carry out raids and kidnappings for ransom in the northwest and north-central parts of the country. — ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026

While conducting a raid on his home Monday, federal agents seized 14 devices, including a hard drive and USB drive containing child pornography. — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026

Verb

In Kogi State, bandits recently raided an orphanage and took twenty-three children hostage. — Alexis Okeowo, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026

Seven of 10 adult child caregivers have taken a hit to their job or career to keep caring, and nearly 1 in 3 have raided or scaled back their own retirement savings, Bay Alarm Medical said. — Medora Lee, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English (Scots) rade, from Old English rād ride, raid — more at road

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1848, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing raid

• air raid
• bombing raid
• counter-raid
• panty raid

Rhymes for raid

• aid
• aide
• bade
• blade
• braid
• clade
• dade
• fade
• flayed
• fraid
• frayed
• gade

Kids Definition

raid

1 of 2 noun

ˈrād 

: a sudden attack or invasion

raid

2 of 2 verb

: to make a raid on

raider noun