Meaning & use
rake
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Meanings
nouncountable
A garden tool with a long handle and a row of teeth, used to gather leaves or level soil.
Grammar: Countable; plural 'rakes'. Often used with 'a' or 'the'.
Patterns
- a rake
- with a rake
- use a rake
He used a rake to clear the leaves.
The rake is leaning against the shed.
She bought a new rake for the garden.
nouncountableold-fashionedliterary
A man who behaves immorally, especially by having many casual sexual relationships.
Grammar: Countable; plural 'rakes'. Often used in literary or humorous contexts.
Patterns
- a rake
- an old rake
In the novel, the hero is a charming rake.
He was known as a rake in his youth.
verbtransitive or intransitive
To gather or level something with a rake.
Grammar: Can take an object: 'rake the leaves'. Can also be used without an object: 'He raked all afternoon.'
Patterns
- rake something
- rake something up
- rake leaves
She raked the leaves into a pile.
He raked the soil smooth.
They raked up the fallen branches.
verbtransitive
To search through a place or collection thoroughly.
Grammar: Takes an object: 'rake the archives'. Often followed by 'through'.
Patterns
- rake through something
- rake something for something
Police raked the area for clues.
She raked through old files for the document.
Word forms
| plural | rakes |
|---|---|
| third person singular | rakes |
| past tense | raked |
| past participle | raked |
| -ing form | raking |
Common combinations
- rake leaves
- We need to rake leaves before the rain.
- rake the soil
- Rake the soil to remove stones.
- rake through
- He raked through the drawers looking for his keys.
- rake up
- She raked up the dead grass.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- raker noun
- A person or thing that rakes.
Commonly confused: rake or rack?
rake vs rack
'Rack' is a frame or shelf, while 'rake' is a garden tool or a search.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
'Rake' is the correct tool; 'rack' is a frame, and 'raker' is a person who rakes.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “rake”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.