plural raids
1
: a surprise attack on an enemy by soldiers or other military forces
They launched/mounted a raid against the enemy.
The building was destroyed in a bombing raid. [=a surprise attack in which bombs are used]
2
: an occurrence in which police suddenly enter a place in a forceful way to find criminals, illegal drugs, etc.
Weapons were also seized during the drug raid.
They caught five smugglers in the raid.
3
chiefly British
: an act of going into a place (such as a bank) in order to steal something : heist
a bank raid
raids; raided; raiding
1
: to attack (a place or group) in a sudden and unexpected way
The village was raided often by neighboring tribes.
2
a
: to enter (a place) suddenly in a forceful way in order to look for someone or something
Police raided the house and found drugs.
Federal agents raided the warehouse, seizing stolen property and arresting five smugglers.
b
: to enter (a place) in order to steal or take something
Two armed men raided [=(more commonly) robbed] the bank on Tuesday.
The boys raided the fridge [=took food from the refrigerator] when they got home from soccer practice.
She raided her sister's closet to find something to wear to the party.
Cite this Entry
“Raid.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/raid. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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