raza
C1-C2Formal, literary, journalistic.
Definition
Meaning
to completely destroy a building, town, or other structure to the ground.
To erase or obliterate something completely; to level or demolish utterly. Can be used figuratively for concepts, hopes, or reputations.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies total destruction, leaving little or nothing standing. Often used in past participle form 'razed'. Not typically used for natural destruction (e.g., by a tornado).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: 'raze' is standard in both. The synonym 'rase' is archaic. Usage and meaning are identical.
Connotations
Identical connotations of total demolition. More common in historical or military contexts.
Frequency
Low frequency in both varieties, slightly more common in American news reports about fires or demolitions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject: agent] razed [Object: structure] (to the ground)[Object: structure] was razed (by [agent])[Subject: fire/war] razed [Object: structure]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Raze to the ground (the most common collocation, emphasising totality).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly in property development: 'The developers plan to raze the old factory.'
Academic
Used in historical and archaeological texts: 'The city was razed by the invading army in 146 BC.'
Everyday
Very rare in casual speech. Might appear in news headlines: 'Fire Razes Historic Warehouse.'
Technical
Used in military, construction, and disaster reporting contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council decided to raze the condemned block of flats.
- Historical records indicate the fortress was razed in the 12th century.
American English
- The city plans to raze the old stadium to make way for a park.
- The wildfire razed thousands of acres of forest.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The old factory was razed last year.
- They had to raze the building because it was unsafe.
- The earthquake razed entire neighbourhoods, leaving thousands homeless.
- Plans to raze the historic theatre were met with public protest.
- The general gave the controversial order to raze the rebellious city to the ground.
- Several villages were summarily razed during the brutal campaign, erasing them from the map.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: You RAZe a building to the ground, leaving only a blur or a 'haze'. The 'Z' in 'raze' looks like a demolition path.
Conceptual Metaphor
DESTRUCTION IS ERASURE (razing a building is like erasing it from the landscape).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'race'.
- Not equivalent to 'разрушать' (to destroy) in all contexts; 'raze' is more extreme and specific.
- False friend: 'раса' (race) is a different word entirely.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'rase'.
- Using it for partial damage. (Incorrect: 'The storm razed the roof.' Correct: 'The storm destroyed the roof.' / 'The fire razed the entire house.')
- Confusing with 'raise' (to lift up).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the verb 'raze' used MOST appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Raze' is a more extreme and specific subset of 'destroy'. It means to destroy something (usually a building or settlement) so completely that it is leveled with the ground.
'Demolish' is the general term for knocking down a structure. 'Raze' implies a more thorough, often violent or catastrophic, destruction that leaves virtually nothing behind. A building can be 'demolished' carefully for parts; it is 'razed' when the goal is total eradication.
Yes, though it's less common. You can say something like 'The scandal razed his political career,' meaning it utterly destroyed it. However, the literal, physical sense is dominant.
The most common and emphatic prepositional phrase is 'raze to the ground'. You can also use 'by' for the agent (razed by fire) or omit the preposition altogether (razed the village).