1
a
: an implement equipped with projecting prongs to gather material (such as leaves) or for loosening or smoothing the surface of the ground
b
: a machine for gathering hay
2
: an implement like a rake
raked; raking
1
: to gather, loosen, or smooth with or as if with a rake
rake leaves into a pile
2
: to gain rapidly or in abundance
—usually used with in
rake in a fortune
4
: to censure severely
5
: to search through : ransack
6
: to sweep the length of especially with gunfire : enfilade
7
: to glance over rapidly
raker
noun
1
: inclination from the perpendicular
especially
: the overhang of a ship's bow or stern
2
: inclination from the horizontal : slope
3
: the angle between the top cutting surface of a tool and a plane perpendicular to the surface of the work
Examples of rake in a Sentence
Verb (1)
he raked repeatedly through his luggage, hoping that in one of the bags he would find his lost passport before his flight's departure
Noun (2)
the floor of the auditorium doesn't have much of a rake, so sightlines for spectators in the rear are not good
Noun (3)
was often spotted in sordid places that reinforced a reputation as one of the city's most notorious rakes
Recent Examples on the Web
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2025
The cabinet measures approximately 53 inches wide, 64 inches tall, and 17 inches deep, offering ample storage space for tool boxes, shovels, rakes, leaf blowers, potting soil, and more.
—Maggie Horton, People.com, 12 May 2025
Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 29 May 2025
Last year the Village Board voted to require Oak Park homeowners residents to bag their leaves instead of just raking their leaves into the street as they had been accustomed to doing.
—Bob Skolnik, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rake
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Noun
Flattening and Excavation One of the best ways to eliminate existing ant hills is to level the ant hill with a rake or shovel.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2025
The cabinet measures approximately 53 inches wide, 64 inches tall, and 17 inches deep, offering ample storage space for tool boxes, shovels, rakes, leaf blowers, potting soil, and more.
—Maggie Horton, People.com, 12 May 2025
Verb
Those waterfowl sure can rake … putting 13 runs on upstart Liberty to get back to the World Series stage.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 29 May 2025
Last year the Village Board voted to require Oak Park homeowners residents to bag their leaves instead of just raking their leaves into the street as they had been accustomed to doing.
—Bob Skolnik, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rake
Cite this Entry
“Rake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rake. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rake
1 of 3 noun1
: a garden tool with a long handle and prongs at the end
2
: a machine for gathering hay
rake
2 of 3 verb
raked; raking
1
: to gather, loosen, or smooth with or as if with a rake
rake leaves
raking in money
2
a
: to touch in passing over lightly
3
: to search through : ransack
rake the records for evidence
4
: to sweep the length of with or as if with gunfire
raker
noun
rake
3 of 3 nounEtymology
Noun
Old English racu "a tool for gathering up grass or straw"
Noun
a shortened form of earlier rakehell (same meaning)
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