noun
Uncommon
raft
rahft
Raft (noun) means a flat floating platform, often made of logs or planks lashed together, used to carry people or cargo on water. Example: “They built a raft from driftwood to cross the river.”
noun
1
A flat floating platform, often made of logs or planks lashed together, used to carry people or cargo on water.
"They built a raft from driftwood to cross the river."
"The survivors clung to a life raft until help arrived."
2
A large, unspecified number or amount of something.
"The new law brought a raft of changes to how taxes are filed."
verb
1
To travel or carry something by raft.
"They rafted down the canyon over three days."
How to use raft
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA simple floating platform — or, informally, a large batch of things.
Common pairings
a raft of proposals
build a raft
life raft
raft down a river
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Word forms
- Plural
- rafts
- Third person singular
- rafts
- Past tense
- rafted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They built a _____ from driftwood to cross the river.
Etymology
From an Old Norse word for a beam or rafter — the same root that gives us "rafter."
Related words
Rhymes for raft
See all rhymes for raft →Frequently asked questions
What does “raft” mean?
The word “raft” means a flat floating platform, often made of logs or planks lashed together, used to carry people or cargo on water. In plain terms, a simple floating platform — or, informally, a large batch of things.
How do you pronounce “raft”?
“Raft” is pronounced rahft (/ɹæft/ in IPA).
How do you use “raft” in a sentence?
Here is “raft” used in a sentence: “They built a raft from driftwood to cross the river.”
What part of speech is “raft”?
Depending on how it is used, “raft” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “raft” come from?
The word “raft” comes from Old Norse. From an Old Norse word for a beam or rafter — the same root that gives us "rafter.".
Is “raft” a common word?
“Raft” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “raft” have?
“Raft” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a flat floating platform, often made of logs or planks lashed together, used to carry people or cargo on water.
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