raze

verb

razed; razing

transitive verb

1
: to destroy to the ground : demolish
raze an old building
2
a
: to scrape, cut, or shave off
b
archaic : erase
razer noun

Examples of raze in a Sentence

an entire city block razed by a terrible fire the developer razed the old school building and built a high-rise condominium complex
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.
Buildings were razed and rebuilt, swimming pools installed, and state-of-the-art stadiums and classrooms created. Jeanne Allen, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025 That building was razed in 2020, and thus far, nothing has replaced it. Randy Mason, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2025 More than 170 families, the majority of them Black, were displaced and their homes were razed. Kale Williams, Axios, 25 Feb. 2025 Image Trump goes after independent agencies President Trump’s campaign to raze and reshape the federal bureaucracy found a new focus on Tuesday: bringing independent agencies like the S.E.C. more firmly under the White House’s command. Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for raze

Word History

Etymology

alteration of rase

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of raze was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Raze.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/raze. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

raze

verb
razed; razing
: to destroy completely by knocking down or breaking to pieces : demolish
razed the building

More from Merriam-Webster on raze

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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