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
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.
Its namesake was an aircraft carrier that launched the air raid on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, which led the U.S. to declare war on Japan. Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024 Israeli air raids against Iran did not trigger a crippling response from Iran’s proxies in Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq or Yemen. Abigail Williams, NBC News, 9 Dec. 2024 The sound of air raid sirens, especially at night, kept people awake for days on end. Gregory Wakeman, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Nov. 2024 Blasts were heard in Kyiv and parts of the city were left without power early on Monday after Ukraine's air force put the whole country under air raid alerts following the launch of Russian missile attacks. Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 11 Nov. 2024 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

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 8 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

air raid

noun
: an attack by armed airplanes on a surface target

More from Merriam-Webster on air raid

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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