raw

1 of 2

adjective

rawer ˈrȯ(-ə)r How to pronounce raw (audio) ; rawest ˈrȯ-əst How to pronounce raw (audio)
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
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

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
Adjective
It can be transmitted through raw eggs and meat or in unpasteurized milk. Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 28 Oct. 2024 On a separate platform to the right of the action, three male chanters sit in a neat row, next to men playing the shamisen, a stringed instrument with a raw and piercing tone which is often used in vocal accompaniment. Jennifer Homans, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
Noun
These ones turn out amazing—topped with sugar in the raw. Bon Appétit Contributor, Bon Appétit, 22 Mar. 2024 So, here’s NFL moneyball in the raw. Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2022 See all Example Sentences for raw 

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

Dictionary Entries Near raw

Cite this Entry

“Raw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/raw. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

raw

1 of 2 adjective
rawer ˈrȯ(-ə)r How to pronounce raw (audio) ; rawest ˈrȯ-əst How to pronounce raw (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on raw

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