air raid

noun

Synonyms of air raidnext
: an attack by armed airplanes on a surface target
—usually hyphenated when used attributively
air-raid shelter

Examples of air raid in a Sentence

Much of the city was destroyed in an air raid.
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.
Ukraine received no warning from its partners ahead of the first wave of attacks, and information about a second wave arrived too late for air raid sirens to be activated in time, air force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said on national television. — Samya Kullab, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026 Russia’s ballistic missiles can reach Kyiv in just minutes, leaving little time to respond; in some recent attacks, air raid sirens sounded at the same time as the first explosions. — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026 The Saudi civil defense reported air raid alerts in Riyadh and Kharj province southeast of the capital. — Mark Osborne, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 But my friend says—three air raid alarms during the screening, and after each all-clear, the story was rewound ten minutes. — Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for air raid

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of air raid was in 1909

Rhymes for air raid

See All Rhymes for air raid

Browse Nearby Words

air rage
air raid
air receiver
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Air raid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/air%20raid. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

air raid

noun
: an attack by armed airplanes on a surface target

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