raw
B1Neutral to formal; also common in technical and artistic contexts.
Definition
Meaning
In its natural state; not processed, cooked, or refined.
Describes data, materials, or emotions that are direct, unprocessed, exposed, or unprotected.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As an adjective, primarily describes substances, data, and emotional states. Metaphorical use common (e.g., 'raw nerves').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal lexical difference. In business, 'raw materials' used identically.
Connotations
Equally strong connotations of risk ('raw deal'), exposure ('raw skin'), and authenticity ('raw talent').
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK culinary contexts due to public health campaigns ('Don't eat raw eggs').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[be] raw[be] raw to the touch[in the] raw (idiom)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “in the raw (naked or in a natural state)”
- “a raw deal (an unfair arrangement)”
- “come the raw prawn (Aust./NZ slang: to attempt to deceive)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to basic commodities or unanalyzed information ('raw materials', 'raw sales figures').
Academic
Describes unanalysed data or primary sources ('raw data sets').
Everyday
Mostly culinary ('raw vegetables') and describing emotions ('raw feeling').
Technical
In computing/photography: unprocessed data ('raw image file').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Not used as a verb in standard English.
American English
- Not used as a verb in standard English.
adverb
British English
- Not standardly used as an adverb.
American English
- Not standardly used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Sashimi is made from raw fish.
- The government released the raw census data.
- Her grief was still raw a month later.
American English
- He ate the cookie dough raw.
- The report is based on raw survey numbers.
- The wound on his knee was raw and painful.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Do not eat raw chicken.
- Carrots can be eaten raw or cooked.
- The factory imports raw materials from overseas.
- Her performance showed raw talent.
- The journalist was given access to the raw footage of the event.
- He felt a raw anger at the injustice.
- The artist's work captures the raw energy of the city.
- Statistical analysis must begin with the careful handling of raw data.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a RAWer's market: everything is fresh, natural, and UNPROCESSED.
Conceptual Metaphor
NATURAL STATE IS RAW (raw talent, raw emotion).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'raw' for 'underdone' meat; in English 'rare' is used for steak. 'Raw' for meat means completely uncooked.
- Do not confuse 'raw data' with 'черновые данные' which implies draft data; 'raw data' is исходные данные.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'raw' to describe undercooked steak (correct: 'rare' or 'medium-rare').
- Using 'naked' as a direct synonym in all contexts ('in the raw' is idiomatic for naked).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'raw' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Indirectly. 'Raw' can describe emotions that are exposed, intense, and fresh, as in 'raw grief' or 'raw nerves'. It suggests a lack of emotional 'processing' or healing.
Both mean 'unprocessed', but 'crude' often carries a stronger negative connotation of roughness or lack of sophistication (e.g., 'crude manners', 'crude oil'). 'Raw' is more neutral, simply indicating an original state.
No. While common with food, it's widely used for materials ('raw metal'), data ('raw data'), emotions ('raw feeling'), and states ('in the raw' meaning naked).
In English, especially for beef steak, you use 'rare'. 'Raw' means completely uncooked. Other terms include 'medium-rare', 'medium', etc.