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

see also:

rake (someone) over the coals

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

Cut, trim and prune with loppers, shears, snips and more, dig and weed with scoops, trowels, weeders and more and take and cultivate with cultivators and rakes. — ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026

If your lawn has low spots that should be leveled due to winter damage or drainage issues, spread soil across the dip, using a garden rake to spread it out and create a level surface. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 16 Aug. 2026

Verb

Aprocetu farmers rake the entire lot in the sun every hour of daylight. — Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

In the Niayes, fertile coastal lowlands between sand dunes and the Atlantic Ocean, two women rake the soil side by side amid a light breeze off the water. — Adrien Marotte, Christian Science Monitor, 20 Aug. 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

• 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)