raze

verb

razed; razing

transitive verb

1
: to destroy to the ground : demolish
raze an old building
2
a
: to scrape, cut, or shave off
b
archaic : erase
razer noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
State Farm requested the emergency rate increase in February, the month after fires ripped through the Pacific Palisades and Altadena neighborhoods of Los Angeles, razing over 16,000 homes and structures. Rukmini Callimachi, New York Times, 14 May 2025 January fire weather conditions driven by climate change had helped fuel the Palisades and Eaton wildfires, which razed almost 40,000 acres of land and destroyed tens of thousands of homes across L.A. Nidhi Sharma, NBC news, 12 May 2025 The buildings are in danger of being razed by the Port of Los Angeles, and the hope is that the visibility afforded by the list will help preservation efforts. Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025 Williams grew up twelve miles to the south, in an Atlanta housing project that has since been razed. Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for raze

Word History

Etymology

alteration of rase

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of raze was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Raze.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/raze. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

raze

verb
razed; razing
: to destroy completely by knocking down or breaking to pieces : demolish
razed the building

More from Merriam-Webster on raze

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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