rake

16 synonyms and 1 antonym for rake, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A garden tool with a row of teeth on a long handle, used to gather leaves or debris or to smooth soil.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

pitch blood

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

comb scrape sweep playboy rip scan

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

libertine roué rakehell roue profligate crease graze skim

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A garden tool with a row of teeth on a long handle, used to gather leaves or debris or to smooth soil.

“He leaned the rake against the shed after clearing the leaves.”

comb scrape sweep libertine playboy roué rakehell roue pitch profligate blood rip

2. verb

To gather, smooth, or clear something using a rake or a similar sweeping motion.

“She spent the afternoon raking the fallen leaves into piles.”

crease graze skim scan

3. noun

A man who lives a reckless, self-indulgent, and often promiscuous lifestyle.

“The novel\'s hero starts out as a notorious rake before falling in love.”

Opposites

prude

How to use rake

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

rake leaves garden rake rake in profits a notorious rake

Etymology

From Old English raca/racu, "tool with a row of teeth", from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to straighten" — the "immoral man" sense developed separately, likely a shortening of "rakehell".

Full origin of rake →

Frequently asked questions

What does “rake” mean?

The word “rake” means a garden tool with a row of teeth on a long handle, used to gather leaves or debris or to smooth soil. In plain terms, most commonly the garden tool or the act of using it — but also a slant/tilt, or (in older or literary English) a charming but disreputable man.

How do you pronounce “rake”?

“Rake” is pronounced rayk (/ɹeɪk/ in IPA).

How do you use “rake” in a sentence?

Here is “rake” used in a sentence: “He leaned the rake against the shed after clearing the leaves.”

What part of speech is “rake”?

Depending on how it is used, “rake” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “rake” come from?

The word “rake” comes from Old English. From Old English raca/racu, "tool with a row of teeth", from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to straighten" — the "immoral man" sense developed separately, likely a shortening of "rakehell".

Is “rake” a common word?

“Rake” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “rake” have?

“Rake” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a garden tool with a row of teeth on a long handle, used to gather leaves or debris or to smooth soil.

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Nearby words

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