raid

[ reyd ]

noun

1. a sudden assault or attack, as upon something to be seized or suppressed:

   a police raid on a gambling ring.

   Synonyms: seizure

2. Military. a sudden attack on the enemy, as by air or by a small land force.

   Synonyms: inroad, invasion, incursion

3. a vigorous, large-scale effort to lure away a competitor's employees, members, etc.
4. Finance. a concerted attempt of speculators to force stock prices down.

verb (used with object)

1. to make a raid on.
2. to steal from; loot:

   a worry that the investment fund is being raided.

3. to entice away from another:

   Large companies are raiding key personnel from smaller companies.

4. to indulge oneself by taking from, especially in order to eat:

   raiding the cookie jar.

verb (used without object)

1. to engage in a raid.

raid

/ reɪd /

noun

1. a sudden surprise attack

   an air raid

2. a surprise visit by police searching for criminals or illicit goods

   a fraud-squad raid

3. See also bear raid dawn raid

verb

1. to make a raid against (a person, thing, etc)
2. to sneak into (a place) in order to take something, steal, etc

   raiding the larder

Derived Forms

• ˈraider, noun

Other Words From

• counter·raid noun verb
• un·raided adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of raid¹

1375–1425; Middle English (north and Scots ) ra ( i ) de, Old English rād expedition, literally, a riding; doublet of road

Word History and Origins

Origin of raid¹

C15: Scottish dialect, from Old English rād military expedition; see road

Example Sentences

It didn't feel like the kind of place where you would normally witness a dawn raid by the serious and organised crime unit.

From BBC

Arab civilians were also reported to have perished in this turmoil, many from shelling by army tanks, or in blistering air raids.

From BBC

But a year after the raid, the case was settled out of court.

From BBC

Police raids were typically settled with mob payoffs.

From New York Times

Officials said the raid targeted a “large-scale” psilocybin operation.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• arrest
• assault
• break in
• capture
• incursion
• invasion
• onslaught
• sortie
• surprise attack
• sweep