Meaning & use

raw

adjective·Everyday

Not cooked, processed, or refined; in its natural, unprocessed state.

See it in a sentence

The chef carefully sliced raw fish thinly for the appetizer.

The factory ships raw materials to plants around the country for processing.

A note on using this word

Raw also describes intense, unfiltered emotion or honesty, as in "raw grief" or "a raw performance," extending beyond its literal, physical sense.

Words with a similar meaning

uncookedunprocessed

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Another way to use it

2. adjective

Very honest, direct, and unfiltered, often expressing strong emotion.

Her memoir offers a raw account of grief and recovery.

Make it your own

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