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.
The attack comes as Russia has sharply intensified its air campaign in recent days, with air raid sirens sounding repeatedly across Kyiv and explosions and the rumble of air defenses punctuating the city throughout the day. — Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 Almost constant air raids in Kyiv have now reached their third day, choking the economy in the Ukrainian capital and severely disrupting civilian life more than 4½ years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor. — ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026 Russian strikes damaged residential buildings, vehicles, storage facilities, a market and a garage complex in the capital, where air raid warnings lasted more than five hours and thousands of residents sheltered in subway stations. — Eric MacK, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026 On Sunday morning there was a strong smell of smoke in the city, one said, and an air raid alert was still in place. — Daria Tarasova-Markina, CNN Money, 19 July 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 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

air raid

noun
: an attack by armed airplanes on a surface target

More from Merriam-Webster on air raid

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for air raid

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