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

Everyone has lost someone, and people want to be able to sleep at night without the sound of air raid sirens. —Ella Polak, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2025

Finally, in April 1945, Hiller was killed in an air raid. —Malcolm Hillgartner Tanya Pérez Lance Neal, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025

Ukraine and Russia trade accusations Shortly after the call between Trump and Putin on Tuesday, air raid sirens sounded in Kyiv, followed by explosions as residents took shelter. —Hanna Arhirova, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025

Its weapons manufacturing was severely curtailed during the Allied air raids toward the end of the war. —Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for air raid

• afraid
• allayed
• arcade
• arrayed
• assayed
• barmaid
• betrayed
• blockade
• bridesmaid
• brigade
• brocade
• buffeted

Kids Definition

air raid

noun

: an attack by armed airplanes on a surface target