# raiding

/ˈɹeɪdɪŋ/ (US) · /ɹˈeɪdɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/raiding
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

the act of making a sudden, surprise attack on a place to steal things or find someone. You often hear this word when police enter a building or when soldiers attack an enemy camp.

For teachers: the act of conducting a sudden, surprise incursion into a location for the purpose of seizing goods, capturing individuals, or gathering intelligence. Often used in military, law enforcement, or historical contexts.

## Examples

- The police are raiding the warehouse right now.
- The coastal village suffered from frequent raiding by pirates during the seventeenth century.
- Historians argue that the primary motivation for the constant raiding along the border was the acquisition of livestock rather than the conquest of territory.

## Usage notes

- Often functions as a gerund noun describing a repeated activity or historical practice.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.