raid

1 of 2

noun

ˈrād 

1

a

: a hostile or predatory incursion

b

: a surprise attack by a small force

2

a

: a brief foray outside one's usual sphere

b

: a sudden invasion by officers of the law

c

: a daring operation against a competitor

d

: the recruiting of personnel (such as faculty, executives, or athletes) from competing organizations

3

: the act of mulcting public money

4

: an attempt by professional operators to depress stock prices by concerted selling

raid

2 of 2

verb

raided; raiding; raids

intransitive verb

: to conduct or take part in a raid

transitive verb

: to make a raid on

Synonyms of raid

Noun

• invasion
• incursion

Verb

• invade
• attack

Examples of raid in a Sentence

Noun

They launched a raid against the enemy.

Weapons were also seized during the drug raid.

They caught five smugglers in the raid.

Verb

The village was raided often by neighboring tribes.

Police raided the house and found drugs.

Federal agents raided the warehouse, seizing stolen property and arresting five smugglers.

She raided her sister's closet to find something to wear to the party.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Government troops also conducted raids in various areas Thursday and killed 10 militants believed to be members of the Pakistani Taliban, the military and police said. — Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026

The raid was carried out by the police department’s Special Services Division. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026

Verb

Still, the family was shocked when their home was raided by Homeland Security Investigations and LAPD in August 2023. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026

After a nearly seven-week manhunt, police raided the Kohberger family home in eastern Pennsylvania, where Kohberger was visiting during holiday break, and arrested him in late December 2022. — Kevin Fixler september 17, Idaho Statesman, 17 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English (Scots) rade, from Old English rād ride, raid — more at road

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1848, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing raid

• air raid
• bombing raid
• counter-raid
• panty raid

Rhymes for raid

• aid
• aide
• bade
• blade
• braid
• clade
• dade
• fade
• flayed
• fraid
• frayed
• gade

Kids Definition

raid

1 of 2 noun

ˈrād 

: a sudden attack or invasion

raid

2 of 2 verb

: to make a raid on

raider noun