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

Immigration advocates and Haitian communities in South Florida, New York and Springfield, Ohio, have all expressed concerns about a surge in ICE raids that could require more detention space. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026

Foreman turned footage of the raid into a series of music videos that went viral, over which the officers sued him in 2023 for defamation and false light, among other claims. — Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 29 July 2026

Verb

In April, heavily armed FBI agents raided the Maryland home of David Morens, Fauci’s 78-year-old former aide. — CNN Money, 22 July 2026

Pride events are held today in San Diego to honor the Stonewall uprising of 1969, when police raided the Stonewall Inn in New York City and patrons fought back in a dayslong confrontation. — Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 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