raze

verb \ ˈrāz \

Definition of raze

razed; razing

transitive verb

1 a archaic :erase

b :to scrape, cut, or shave off

2 :to destroy to the ground :demolish

raze an old building

—

razer

noun

See raze defined for English-language learners

See raze defined for kids

Examples of raze in a Sentence

an entire city block razed by a terrible fire
the developer razed the old school building and built a high-rise condominium complex

Recent Examples of raze from the Web

The dog’s first two families moved out of the community as it was being razed to make way for Olympics construction.

— mimi whitefield, miamiherald, "Brazilians dislocated by Rio Olympics try to rebuild lives and communities," 24 Aug. 2017
After the show, the building was slotted to be razed for the construction of a low-income senior housing development.

— rebecca dolan, Esquire, "Watch Street Artists Repaint New York's Lower East Side," 27 July 2017
In neighborhoods like Dilworth, Myers Park and Cotswold, nearly entire streets of older bungalows, ranch houses and one-story mill-style homes have been razed.

— ely portillo and gavin off, charlotteobserver, "Love them or hate them, ‘teardowns’ are reshaping Charlotte neighborhoods at record pace," 19 July 2017
One particularly controversial practice is razing one house and then dividing the lot for two single-family houses, or even townhouses.

— ely portillo and gavin off, charlotteobserver, "Love them or hate them, ‘teardowns’ are reshaping Charlotte neighborhoods at record pace," 19 July 2017
In the spring of 1844, nativist mobs burned Catholic churches in Philadelphia, killed dozens, and razed an immigrant neighborhood.

— nicholas m. gallagher, National Review, "America Needs to Reconcile Its Id and Superego," 11 July 2017
Weise said Monday their plans could involve razing the three-story, 15,300-square-foot building, 1534 N. Farwell Ave.

— tom daykin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Paul Weise Furniture building on Milwaukee's east side might be demolished for apartments," 10 July 2017
A service station and convenience store was razed to make way for the Mandeville restaurant.

— kim chatelain, NOLA.com, "Gordon's of Mandeville to close this summer," 6 July 2017
The Islamic State group razed it to the ground in August 2014.

— lee keath, The Seattle Times, "A Mosul mosque in rubble, victim of militants’ destruction," 29 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'raze.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of raze

alteration of rase

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

raze Synonyms

Synonyms

annihilate, cream, decimate, demolish, desolate, devastate, do in, extinguish, nuke, pull down, pulverize, destroy, rub out, ruin, shatter, smash, tear down, total, vaporize, waste, wrack, wreck

Antonyms

build, construct, erect, put up, raise, rear, set up

Related Words

beat, best, clobber, conquer, crush, defeat, drub, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), rout, scotch, skunk, subdue, surmount, thrash, trim, triumph (over), trounce, wallop, whip, win (against); blast, blow up, break, cripple, damage, deface, deteriorate, disfigure, disintegrate, dissolve, dynamite, harm, impair, injure, mangle, mar, mutilate, spoil, vitiate; erode, scour, sweep (away), wash out, wear (away); dilapidate, disassemble, dismantle, gut, take down, unbuild, undo, unmake; blot out, efface, eradicate, expunge, exterminate, extirpate, liquidate, obliterate, remove, root (out), snuff (out), stamp (out), wipe out; despoil, havoc, loot, pillage, plunder, ravage, sack, trample, trash, vandalize; assassinate, butcher, cut down, dispatch, execute, fell, kill, kill off, massacre, mow (down), murder, slaughter, slay, take out, zap

Near Antonyms

doctor, fix, mend, patch, recondition, repair, revamp; create, invent; assemble, fabricate, fashion, forge, form, frame, make, manufacture, mold, produce, shape; bring about, constitute, establish, father, found, institute, organize; conserve, preserve, protect, save; rebuild, reconstruct, remodel, renovate, restore

RAZE Defined for English Language Learners

raze

verb

Definition of raze for English Language Learners

: to destroy (something, such as a building) completely

RAZE Defined for Kids

raze

verb \ ˈrāz \

Definition of raze for Students

razed; razing

:to destroy completely by knocking down or breaking to pieces :demolish

Learn More about raze

See words that rhyme with raze Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for raze Spanish Central: Translation of raze Nglish: Translation of raze for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of raze for Arabic speakers

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raze

Definition of raze

razer

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raze Synonyms

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RAZE Defined for English Language Learners

raze

Definition of raze for English Language Learners

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raze

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