NYT Dictionary

RAID

/ɹeɪd/
NounVerbRAYDGrade 5

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

A quick hostile or predatory incursion or invasion in a battle.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

From Scots raid, from Northern Middle English rade, from Old English rād (“a riding, an expedition on horseback, road”), whence also the inherited English road (“way, street”). The earlier senses of “a riding, expedition, raid” fell into disuse in Early Modern English, but were revived in the northern form raid by Walter Scott in the early 19th century. The use for a swift police operation appears in the later 19th century and may perhaps have been influenced by French razzia (similar in both original meaning and sound).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

attackforayincursionirruptionmaraudbustaggressionappropriateassaultbanditry

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 20 recorded puzzles:

+8 earlier appearances in the archive.

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