1
: not cooked
2
a(1)
: being in or nearly in the natural state : not processed or purified
raw fibers
raw sewage
(2)
: not diluted or blended
raw spirits
b
: unprepared or imperfectly prepared for use
c
: not being in polished, finished, or processed form
raw data
a raw draft of a thesis
3
a(1)
: having the surface abraded or chafed
(2)
: very irritated
a raw sore throat
b
: lacking covering : naked
c
: not protected : susceptible to hurt
raw emotions
4
5
: disagreeably damp or cold
a raw winter day
rawly
adverb
rawness
noun
: a raw place or state
Synonyms
Examples of raw in a Sentence
Adjective
He entered the raw data into a spreadsheet.
The shoes rubbed my heels raw.
His throat was raw from the cold air.
Noun
a secluded swimming hole where we could swim in the raw
Recent Examples on the Web
Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2023
The Tailor Made case provides a clue to the source of the semaglutide: The raw ingredient came from overseas.
—Daniel Gilbert, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2023
But the raw numbers don't take inflation into account.
—WSJ, 18 Sep. 2023
Then on the other side of a little separator is all the raw protein.
—Adam Tschorn, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2023
In terms of raw figures, the turnaround was equally dramatic.
—John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2023
With an emphasis on visual clarity over raw performance, the P32p-30 is a 4K UHD monitor with a 31.5-inch IPS panel.
—PCMAG, 15 Sep. 2023
The way the toasted bread grazed and cut up the roof of my mouth, leaving me with a raw souvenir for my tongue to caress for days after the sandwich was long gone.
—Farideh Sadeghin, Saveur, 14 Sep. 2023
The raw drama, about a hardscrabble family whose life slowly descends into a nightmare, looks like a return to form for one of Europe’s most promising young filmmakers.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Sep. 2023
Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2022
Raw beef stored above raw shelled eggs, crab and shrimp.
—Ebony Day, azcentral, 4 Mar. 2020
Several open pans of raw shelled eggs stored directly above ready-to-eat leafy greens in cooler.
—Ebony Day, azcentral, 15 Jan. 2020
Employee cracked a raw shelled egg with gloved hands then handled a clean plate and kitchen utensils without washing hands between tasks.
—Ebony Day, azcentral, 25 Dec. 2019
Tim RoneyGetty Images Her 1995 raw, ragey, best-selling album, Jagged Little Pill, spoke to a generation—and inspired a musical of the same name, opening on Broadway this month.
—Alanis Morissette, Marie Claire, 8 Nov. 2019
Cooked rice, dosa batter, Biryani, sauces, chicken, shredded cabbage, milk, yogurt and raw shelled eggs not kept cold enough.
—Ebony Day, azcentral, 19 June 2019
Cartons of raw shelled eggs and tofu at improper temperature.
—Ryan Santistevan, azcentral, 9 May 2018
The Peanut Barn buys raw shelled peanuts to cook and flavor or grind into paste for its handcrafted and popular Natural Peanut Butter.
—Robert Anglen, azcentral, 2 Mar. 2018
See More
Adjective
Cook over medium heat until the mixture bubbles gently and then cook for 2 minutes to eliminate the raw flour taste.
—Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2023
The Tailor Made case provides a clue to the source of the semaglutide: The raw ingredient came from overseas.
—Daniel Gilbert, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2023
But the raw numbers don't take inflation into account.
—WSJ, 18 Sep. 2023
Then on the other side of a little separator is all the raw protein.
—Adam Tschorn, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2023
In terms of raw figures, the turnaround was equally dramatic.
—John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2023
With an emphasis on visual clarity over raw performance, the P32p-30 is a 4K UHD monitor with a 31.5-inch IPS panel.
—PCMAG, 15 Sep. 2023
The way the toasted bread grazed and cut up the roof of my mouth, leaving me with a raw souvenir for my tongue to caress for days after the sandwich was long gone.
—Farideh Sadeghin, Saveur, 14 Sep. 2023
The raw drama, about a hardscrabble family whose life slowly descends into a nightmare, looks like a return to form for one of Europe’s most promising young filmmakers.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Sep. 2023
Noun
So, here’s NFL moneyball in the raw.
—Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2022
Raw beef stored above raw shelled eggs, crab and shrimp.
—Ebony Day, azcentral, 4 Mar. 2020
Several open pans of raw shelled eggs stored directly above ready-to-eat leafy greens in cooler.
—Ebony Day, azcentral, 15 Jan. 2020
Employee cracked a raw shelled egg with gloved hands then handled a clean plate and kitchen utensils without washing hands between tasks.
—Ebony Day, azcentral, 25 Dec. 2019
Tim RoneyGetty Images Her 1995 raw, ragey, best-selling album, Jagged Little Pill, spoke to a generation—and inspired a musical of the same name, opening on Broadway this month.
—Alanis Morissette, Marie Claire, 8 Nov. 2019
Cooked rice, dosa batter, Biryani, sauces, chicken, shredded cabbage, milk, yogurt and raw shelled eggs not kept cold enough.
—Ebony Day, azcentral, 19 June 2019
Cartons of raw shelled eggs and tofu at improper temperature.
—Ryan Santistevan, azcentral, 9 May 2018
The Peanut Barn buys raw shelled peanuts to cook and flavor or grind into paste for its handcrafted and popular Natural Peanut Butter.
—Robert Anglen, azcentral, 2 Mar. 2018
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'raw.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from Old English hrēaw; akin to Old High German hrō raw, Latin crudus raw, cruor blood, Greek kreas flesh
First Known Use
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1823, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of raw was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing raw
Dictionary Entries Near raw
Cite this Entry
“Raw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/raw. Accessed 24 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
raw
1 of 2 adjective1
: not cooked
a raw carrot
2
a
: being in or nearly in the natural state : not processed or purified
raw milk
raw sewage
b
: not in a finished, organized, or polished form
the raw edge of a seam
raw data
3
a
: having the surface scraped or roughened
raw red hands
b
: very sore or irritated
a raw throat
4
: not trained or experienced
a raw recruit
5
: unpleasantly damp or cold
a raw wind
rawly
adverb
rawness
noun
raw
2 of 2 noun
: a raw place or state
More from Merriam-Webster on raw
Nglish: Translation of raw for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of raw for Arabic Speakers
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