raze
C2Formal, literary, journalistic, historical.
Definition
Meaning
To completely destroy (a building, town, etc.) to the ground.
To demolish utterly; to erase or obliterate as if by scraping or leveling to the ground. Can be used metaphorically to mean eliminating completely.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies total, often violent, destruction and complete removal of structures, leaving a flat or empty site. Often connotes an intentional, deliberate act of destruction. Not used for gradual decay or natural disasters.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is the same. Pronunciation varies slightly.
Connotations
Shared connotations of total, often violent, demolition.
Frequency
Equally rare/formal in both varieties. Slightly more common in American historical/journalistic contexts about urban renewal or demolition.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject: agent] + raze + [Object: building/city] + (to the ground)[Subject: fire/war] + raze + [Object: area]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “raze to the ground”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in reports on property development: 'The old factory was razed to make way for the new complex.'
Academic
Used in historical, architectural, or military texts: 'The Roman army razed Carthage in 146 BC.'
Everyday
Very rare. 'Bulldoze' or 'knock down' are preferred.
Technical
Used in construction, demolition, and urban planning with the same meaning as core.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council ordered the condemned block of flats to be razed.
- Historians note that many medieval villages were razed during the conflict.
- The old pub was razed last year, much to locals' dismay.
American English
- The developer plans to raze the mall and build a mixed-use complex.
- The fire razed several blocks of the historic district.
- City officials decided to raze the unsafe structure immediately.
adverb
British English
- N/A (not standard).
American English
- N/A (not standard).
adjective
British English
- N/A (not standard).
American English
- N/A (not standard).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The old building was razed. A new park is there now.
- The fire razed the forest.
- The developers applied for a permit to raze the derelict warehouse.
- During the war, countless villages were razed to the ground.
- The city's controversial plan to raze the mid-century housing estate sparked a preservation debate.
- The archaeological site was unfortunately razed by construction before it could be properly studied.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'RAZE' sounds like 'RAZOR'. A razor shaves hair off level with the skin. To RAZE is to shave a building level with the ground.
Conceptual Metaphor
DESTRUCTION IS ERASURE / A BUILDING IS HAIR TO BE SHAVED OFF.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'raise' (/reɪz/ - поднимать). They are homophones but antonyms. 'Raze' is destruction, 'raise' is construction.
- The Russian 'разрушать' (razrushat') is more general. 'Raze' specifically implies reducing to a flat, empty surface.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'raze' with 'raise'. (e.g., INCORRECT: 'They plan to raise the old stadium.')
- Using it for partial damage. (e.g., INCORRECT: 'The storm razed the roof.')
- Misspelling as 'rase'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'raze' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a specific type of destruction. 'Raze' means to destroy a structure completely, especially by levelling it to the ground. You can destroy a car, but you cannot 'raze' it.
They are very close synonyms. 'Demolish' is more common and general. 'Raze' is more dramatic, literary, and often implies the complete removal of all above-ground traces, leaving a flat, empty space.
They are homophones (sound-alikes) with opposite meanings. 'Raze' (destroy) comes from Old French 'raser' (to scrape). 'Raise' (lift) comes from Old Norse 'reisa'. Their identical pronunciation is a coincidence in Modern English.
Yes, though it's less common. E.g., 'The scandal razed his political career to the ground,' meaning it completely destroyed it.