rake

1 of 6

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 6

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 6

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 6

verb (2)

raked; raking

intransitive verb

: to incline from the perpendicular

rake

5 of 6

noun (3)

: a dissolute person : libertine

raker

6 of 6

noun (4)

rak·​er

ˈrā-kər

plural -s

1

: one that rakes: such as

a

: one that gathers clams with a rake

b

: one that rakes dead leaves and other debris from around turpentine trees to lessen fire hazards

c

: gummer entry 1 sense 1

d

: an iron bar with pointed steel ends bent at right angles in opposite directions that is used for raking out old mortar in walls before pointing

e

: a raft dog similarly shaped

f

: one of a number of short teeth with deep gullet and considerable rake that are interspersed among the other teeth in some saws to clean out the kerf

2

[rake entry 5 + -er] : any of a number of shores except the bottom innermost one that prop up a wall

3

: gill raker

Synonyms of rake

Verb (1)

• search
• comb
• find
• dredge
• scan

Noun (2)

• slope
• inclination
• incline

Noun (3)

• degenerate
• pervert
• villain

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

Use a rake with short straight tines to pull up thatch from small areas. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 16 June 2026

The definition of sports memorabilia has expanded in recent years alongside a boom in collecting and the support of companies like The Realest, which has developed an expertise in authenticating off-beat items, from Lincoln Financial Field snow to a Ryder Cup rake. —Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 14 June 2026

Verb

They might well also be frustrated that Messi stayed on the pitch after his left boot raked the back of Aissa Mandi’s right leg at 1-0. —Jay Harris, New York Times, 17 June 2026

After severe thunderstorms raked Washington on Friday evening, the Kennedy Center sought one more extension before complying with a noon Saturday deadline. —Steven Sloan, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2026

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

and Noun (4)

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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

Verb (1)

14th 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 (someone) over the coals
• 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)