raze

\ ˈrāz

How to pronounce raze (audio)

\

razed; razing

Definition of raze

transitive verb

1 : to destroy to the ground : demolish raze an old building

2a : to scrape, cut, or shave off

b archaic : erase

Other Words from raze Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about raze

Keep scrolling for more

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 on the Web Cleveland intends to raze two lakeshore warehouses on docks north of FirstEnergy Stadium to help provide more space for the 2021 NFL draft and open the door for future uses. — Robert Higgs, cleveland, "Cleveland to demolish 2 warehouses near FirstEnergy Stadium for 2021 NFL draft, future uses," 24 Dec. 2020 Instead, modernism sought to raze and rebuild cities into either vertical towers or sprawling suburbs. — Max Holleran, The New Republic, "The Future of Staying Home," 3 Dec. 2020 Buyers have two options: Keep the existing house, a humble 4,700-square-foot traditional, or raze it and erect a mansion of up to 14,565 square feet. — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, "Hot Property: Comedian Kathy Griffin cashes out in Bel-Air," 19 Dec. 2020 Documents submitted to Winnetka’s Landmark Preservation Commission state that the buyer intends to raze two homes on the site in the spring, and will then submit a building permit for what likely will be a megamansion. — Bob Goldsborough, chicagotribune.com, "Mystery buyer set to pay $24 million for 3.3 acres in Winnetka — setting a Chicago-area record before construction even begins," 17 Dec. 2020 Whether this or that pile of rubble was produced lawfully, or whether or not American boots touched Syrian soil, is not nearly as important as the fact that the U.S. was free to raze a foreign city with no public discussion or accountability. — Anand Gopal, The New Yorker, "America’s War on Syrian Civilians," 14 Dec. 2020 But her mother, now in her 70s (her father died in 2005), continues to live in the Greenwich house, as bulldozers raze neighboring properties of similar vintage to make way for vast neo-Norman compounds. — Nancy Hass, New York Times, "In Connecticut, a House That Blurs the Boundaries of Time and Place," 30 Sep. 2020 Preservationists and North Side residents are trying to save a mid-20th century barn believed to be the last remnant of the area’s dairy farming heritage, over the objections of a landowner who wants to raze the building for a shopping center. — Scott Huddleston, ExpressNews.com, "Residents, preservationists hope to save North Side dairy barn," 4 Dec. 2020 The city did raze the Target store, which was a location under consideration for a branch of Costco tailored to small businesses, called Costco Business Centers. — Jc Reindl, Detroit Free Press, "Same name, very different future for Northland mall site," 19 Nov. 2020

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.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about raze

Dictionary Entries near raze

Statistics for raze

Last Updated

17 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Raze.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/raze. Accessed 25 Jan. 2021.

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

optimization

Listen to the pronunciation of optimization

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Slippery Words Quiz—Changing with the Times

What is an earlier meaning of nice?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

Universal Daily Crossword

A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.