as in searching
to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something
he raked repeatedly through his luggage, hoping that in one of the bags he would find his lost passport before his flight's departure
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Recent Examples of raking
How To Clean Cotton/Jersey Gardening Gloves Cotton makes a good all-purpose glove for raking leaves and tidying your yard.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 8 June 2026
Then comes raking the clippings, bagging them up, and hauling them to the garbage.
—Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 7 June 2026
This can include flattening the hill, raking or shoveling the mound, or even using a garden hose to flood the area.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 4 June 2026
Just avoid raking clover seed after planting as this covers the seeds with too much soil and reduces germination rates.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 May 2026
Its pointed corners fit into crevices for raking out hard-to-reach pet hair from the car’s interior, car mats or any other fabric surface.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 15 May 2026
Tourists and scientists want to know On Thursday, three tractors spent more than an hour raking the beach at South Pointe Park in Miami Beach as beachgoers weaved around them, stepping over thick piles of sargassum that turned the shoreline water a murky brown.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 9 May 2026
Domínguez, meanwhile, has been raking at Triple-A since missing the cut for the Yankees’ Opening Day roster.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2026
Pau Torres’s raking pass intended for Leon Bailey fell short.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 8 June 2026
Then comes raking the clippings, bagging them up, and hauling them to the garbage.
—Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 7 June 2026
This can include flattening the hill, raking or shoveling the mound, or even using a garden hose to flood the area.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 4 June 2026
Just avoid raking clover seed after planting as this covers the seeds with too much soil and reduces germination rates.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 May 2026
Its pointed corners fit into crevices for raking out hard-to-reach pet hair from the car’s interior, car mats or any other fabric surface.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 15 May 2026
Tourists and scientists want to know On Thursday, three tractors spent more than an hour raking the beach at South Pointe Park in Miami Beach as beachgoers weaved around them, stepping over thick piles of sargassum that turned the shoreline water a murky brown.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 9 May 2026
Domínguez, meanwhile, has been raking at Triple-A since missing the cut for the Yankees’ Opening Day roster.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2026
Pau Torres’s raking pass intended for Leon Bailey fell short.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for raking
Verb
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Rescue teams began searching for the daredevil and found his body about three feet below the crater's water surface after rescue efforts that lasted about four and a half hours.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
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Across the country, workers who once expected to rely entirely on traditional employment are now searching for something more stable, flexible, and lasting.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
Verb
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The hundreds of ground squirrels, which typically spend their time combing the grass for crumbs and approaching visitors in search of a treat, are native to the area.—
Nicole Comstock,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
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Instead of combing through dozens of forecasts, users see clear guidance that matches the dates, cities, and timing of their own trip.—
Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone,
Miami Herald,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Students are constantly scanning adults for cues about whether they are understood, safe, respected, or expected to succeed.—
Kyle Smitley,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
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Anxiously scanning the horizon, hoping that a brilliant force will leave the masses forever changed.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Another problem is the difficulty older Americans have in finding new jobs.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
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In the 10th minute, Neil El Aynaoui pilfered the ball from Ryan Christie, then nearly capitalized on the ensuing counterattack, finding free space in front of an open net but overrunning Azzedine Ounahi’s cross.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
20 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Raking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/raking. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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