rake

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈrāk 

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

rake

2 of 5

verb (1)

raked; raking

transitive verb

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

3

a

: to touch in passing over lightly

b

: scratch, scrape

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

rake

3 of 5

noun (2)

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

rake

4 of 5

verb (2)

raked; raking

intransitive verb

: to incline from the perpendicular

rake

5 of 5

noun (3)

: a dissolute person : libertine

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• comb
• dig (through)
• dredge
• hunt (through)
• ransack
• rifle
• rummage
• scour
• search
• sort (through)
• troll

Noun (2)

• cant
• diagonal
• grade
• gradient
• inclination
• incline
• lean
• pitch
• slant
• slope
• upgrade

Noun (3)

• backslider
• debauchee
• debaucher
• decadent
• degenerate
• deviate
• libertine
• perv
• pervert
• profligate
• rakehell
• rip

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

Noun

By the time the father and son arrived on scene to help, the three men had used crab rakes to move the shark into deeper water, according to ABC. —Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 1 May 2025

Then clear larger leaves and debris with a rake and push broom. —Kara McGinley, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025

Verb

Nash Core and his 11-year-old son, Parker, discovered the shark while flying a drone along the beach during a crab raking trip. —Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 2 May 2025

The red-hot Trent Grisham returned to the team and the leadoff spot following paternity leave, while the raking Ben Rice occupied the three-hole for the first time this season. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English racu; akin to Old High German rehho rake

Noun (2)

origin unknown

Noun (3)

short for rakehell

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1621, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1691, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1687, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing rake

• haul/rake (someone) over the coals
• rake in
• rake it in
• rake-off
• rake over
• rake up

Rhymes for rake

• ache
• ake
• bake
• brake
• break
• cake
• craik
• crake
• fake
• flake
• hake
• jake

Kids Definition

rake

1 of 3 noun

ˈrāk 

1

: 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

b

: scratch entry 1 sense 1, scrape

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 noun

: libertine

Etymology

Noun

Old English racu "a tool for gathering up grass or straw"

Noun

a shortened form of earlier rakehell (same meaning)