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air raid
noun
: 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
The production team persevered through air raid sirens, power outages, and the echoes of missiles to craft a narrative that captures the resilience, culture, and spirit of the Ukrainian people.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2024
Blinken landed just hours after Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets into central Israel, setting off air raid sirens in the country’s most populated areas and its international airport, but causing no apparent damage or injuries.
—Farnoush Amiri, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2024
No air raid sirens blared in Israel Sunday, when a drone launched by Hezbollah forces in Lebanon entered Israeli airspace, eventually crashing through the roof of an army base dining hall deep inside the country.
—Dina Kraft, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Oct. 2024
The nascent ground operation in Lebanon has already proved costlier, in terms of Israeli military casualties, than the prior air raids and special ops.
—Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 4 Oct. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1909, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near air raid
Cite this Entry
“Air raid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/air%20raid. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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
Britannica English: Translation of air raid for Arabic Speakers
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