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
• rare

Noun

• nudity
• nude

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

The advantages extend far beyond raw performance numbers. —Siyu Huang, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

Joel Alfonso Vargas brings raw authenticity and lyrical vision to a coming-of-age story that pulses with life and urgency. —Leo Barraclough, Variety, 1 July 2025

Noun

Lina is played by the ghoulishly-great Betty Gilpin, who does in her craft what real-life Lina does in her soul—glitter in the raw. —Denise Petski, Deadline, 4 June 2025

If ingested raw, pathogens may remain on the surface of the placenta. —Marley Dewey, The Conversation, 16 May 2025

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

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

Rhymes for raw

• aah
• ah
• ahh
• aw
• awe
• bah
• blah
• bra
• caw
• claw
• craw
• daw

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