What is raw? Pronunciation and usage in English

raw means . Learn how to pronounce and use raw through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of raw

rawadjective

/rɔː/
Definition & pronunciation of raw

The word "raw" in English is pronounced "raw".

It's a simple, one-syllable word with a short "a" sound, like in the word "law" or "saw."

Here's a breakdown:

  • Rhyme: It rhymes with "raw" and "haw."
  • Sound: The vowel sound is similar to the sound in the word "father" but shorter and more clipped.

You can listen to the pronunciation here: https://www.merriam-webster.com/audio/pronunciation/raw

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Usage and examples with the word raw in English

Let's break down how to use the word "raw" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with several different meanings and applications. Here's a breakdown by category:

1. Literal Meaning: Unprocessed & Uncooked

  • Food: This is the most common and immediate association. "Raw" means not cooked; still in its natural state.
    • "I love a raw steak – it has the best flavor."
    • "She added some raw vegetables to her salad."
    • "Don't eat raw fish; it could contain bacteria."
    • "He prefers his fruit raw, without peeling."

2. Emotional State – Unfiltered & Honest

  • Feeling: "Raw" describes emotions that are intense, vulnerable, and unfiltered. It suggests a lack of defense or composure.
    • "After the breakup, he was feeling incredibly raw." (He was still deeply hurt and not yet able to process it.)
    • "Her performance was remarkably raw, capturing the pain of the experience."
    • "The song had a raw and emotional quality.”
    • “She spoke with a raw honesty that surprised everyone.”

3. Describing Style – Unrefined & Original

  • Art/Music/Writing: "Raw" can describe a creative work that isn't polished or perfected. It implies authenticity and a direct expression of feeling or experience.
    • "The band's debut album had a raw, unproduced sound."
    • “The writer’s prose had a raw, almost brutal honesty.”
    • “Her painting style is raw and expressive.”

4. Used as an Adjective to Describe Something Basic or Fundamental

  • Unadorned: “Raw” can suggest something stripped down to its essentials.
    • "The data was presented in a raw format, without any charts or graphs." (Meaning, it was just the bare numbers.)
    • “He spoke in a raw, honest, and unembellished manner.”
    • "The land was raw and untouched by civilization."

5. Figurative – Uncontrolled or Untamed

  • Nature/Energy: In some contexts, "raw" can refer to something powerful and untamed.
    • "The storm unleashed a raw display of force."
    • “He had a raw, untamed energy about him.” (Suggesting intensity and unpredictability)

Key Considerations & Nuances:

  • Intensity: "Raw" usually implies a strong emotion or experience. It's not just mildly sad or slightly rough.
  • Contrast: Often, "raw" is used to contrast with something polished, refined, or processed.
  • Tone: “Raw” can sound somewhat intense or even slightly uncomfortable. Be mindful of your audience and the context.

Here’s a quick table to summarise:

Category Meaning Example
Food Uncooked, unprocessed “I prefer my pizza with a raw tomato sauce.”
Emotion Intense, vulnerable, unfiltered "She was feeling raw after the news."
Style Unrefined, original “The film had a raw, gritty cinematography.”
Basic/Fundamental Unadorned, essential "The data was in a raw format."
Figurative Untamed, powerful "The wind felt raw and biting."

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • In what context are you trying to use the word "raw"? (e.g., writing a story, describing food, talking about emotions, etc.)

Synonyms for the word raw

Idioms of the word raw

a raw deal
the fact of somebody being treated unfairly
  • Older workers often get a raw deal.

Practice with vocabulary raw

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The research team needed to analyze vast amounts of __________ data before they could draw any conclusions.
  2. After the accident, he was left with a __________ nerve exposed, causing him intense pain.
  3. The marketing department received a lot of __________ feedback from the focus group, which needed careful interpretation.
  4. The chef insisted on using only __________ ingredients, preferring fresh produce over anything pre-prepared.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. Which of the following describes unprocessed materials or data directly from the source? a) Refined b) Raw c) Fabricated d) Unfiltered

  2. When discussing a difficult experience, one might describe their feelings as: a) Neutral b) Intense c) Detached d) Overwhelming

  3. To preserve maximum nutritional value, some foods are best consumed in their __________ state. a) Cooked b) Processed c) Raw d) Natural

  4. Which of these words best describes a project idea that is still in its very early, undeveloped stages? a) Polished b) Finished c) Nascent d) Conceptual

  5. The artist preferred to work with __________ canvas, treating it directly with paint without any preliminary gesso layers. a) Primed b) Treated c) Raw d) Untreated

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The initial figures from the customer survey were still very basic and had not been analyzed yet. (Rewrite the sentence, using "raw".)

  2. The oil extracted directly from the ground requires significant processing before it can be used. (Rewrite the sentence, using a suitable replacement word for "extracted directly from the ground" but not "raw".)

  3. Her reaction to the unexpected news was extremely powerful and showed all her true feelings without any restraint. (Rewrite the sentence, using "raw" or a related word form.)

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The research team needed to analyze vast amounts of raw data before they could draw any conclusions.
  2. After the accident, he was left with a raw nerve exposed, causing him intense pain.
  3. The marketing department received a lot of unfiltered feedback from the focus group, which needed careful interpretation.
  4. The chef insisted on using only fresh ingredients, preferring fresh produce over anything pre-prepared.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. b) Raw, d) Unfiltered
  2. b) Intense, d) Overwhelming
  3. c) Raw, d) Natural
  4. c) Nascent, d) Conceptual
  5. c) Raw, d) Untreated

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The initial figures from the customer survey were still raw and had not been analyzed yet.
  2. The crude oil requires significant processing before it can be used.
  3. Her reaction to the unexpected news was an extremely raw display of her true feelings.

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