raw

1 of 2

adjective

ˈrȯ 

rawer ˈrȯ(-ə)r  ; rawest ˈrȯ-əst 

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

a

: lacking experience or understanding : green

a raw recruit

b(1)

: marked by absence of refinements

(2)

: vulgar, coarse

raw language

c

: not tempered : unbridled

raw power

5

: disagreeably damp or cold

a raw winter day

rawly adverb

rawness noun

raw

2 of 2

noun

: a raw place or state

Phrases

in the raw

1

: in a natural, unrefined, or crude state

2

: naked

slept in the raw

Synonyms

Adjective

• uncooked

Noun

• altogether
• bareness
• birthday suit
• bottomlessness
• buff
• nakedness
• nude
• nudity

Choose the Right Synonym for raw

rude, rough, crude, raw mean lacking in social refinement.

rude implies ignorance of or indifference to good form; it may suggest intentional discourtesy.

rude behavior

rough is likely to stress lack of polish and gentleness.

rough manners

crude may apply to thought or behavior limited to the gross, the obvious, or the primitive.

a crude joke

raw suggests being untested, inexperienced, or unfinished.

turning raw youths into polished performers

Example Sentences

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

Adjective

Costa’s also kept raw chicken at 52 degrees, 11 degrees higher than the maximum acceptable temperature, costing the restaurant another five points. —Howard Koplowitz | [e-mail], al, 5 Apr. 2023

Nashville's grief is still raw, weekend memorial services for Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney. —CBS News, 2 Apr. 2023

After heavy rainfall in the summer of 2021, Sedona's pump system became overwhelmed and spilled 1,500 gallons of raw sewage into Oak Creek. —Lacey Latch, The Arizona Republic, 1 Apr. 2023

Why did the raw meat cannibal sandwich become so popular in Wisconsin? —Jordyn Noennig, Journal Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2023

For me, the emotions were just very, very raw, but so easily accessible. —Town & Country, 24 Mar. 2023

Back then, each story felt ominous, raw, and more than a little dystopian. —Nicole Acheampong, The Atlantic, 17 Mar. 2023

Such requests include one from a coalition of local grocery stores asking for a two-year reprieve for raw meat foam packaging. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2023

In 2020, a 37-year-old man at the jail filed a federal lawsuit alleging that detainees were confined to their cells after raw sewage leaked into the cellblock. —Cassidy Jensen, Baltimore Sun, 16 Mar. 2023

Noun

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

Or the movie that’s making viewers pass out, like that cannibal horror film Raw. —Kenzie Bryant, Vanities, 9 Aug. 2017

See More

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

Phrases Containing raw

• raw material
• a raw deal
• raw bar
• touch/strike/hit a raw nerve
• raw deal
• raw score
• in the raw

• raw material
• a raw deal
• raw bar
• touch/strike/hit a raw nerve
• raw deal
• raw score
• in the raw

See More

Kids Definition

raw

1 of 2 adjective

ˈrȯ 

rawer ˈrȯ(-ə)r  ; rawest ˈrȯ-əst 

1

: 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