Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense raffles, present participle raffling, past tense, past participle raffled
1. countable noun
A raffle is a competition in which you buy tickets with numbers on them. Afterwards some numbers are chosen, and if your ticket has one of these numbers on it, you win a prize.
Any more raffle tickets? Twenty-five pence each or five for a pound.
Synonyms: draw, lottery, ballot, sweepstake More Synonyms of raffle
2. verb
If someone raffles something, they give it as a prize in a raffle.
During each show we will be raffling a fabulous prize. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: draw More Synonyms of raffle
raffle in British English
(ˈræfəl)
noun
1.
a.
a lottery in which the prizes are goods rather than money
b.
(as modifier)
a raffle ticket
verb
2. (transitive; often foll byoff)
to dispose of (goods) in a raffle
Derived forms
raffler (ˈraffler)
noun
Word origin
C14 (a dice game): from Old French, of obscure origin
raffle in American English1
(ˈræfəl)
noun
1.
a lottery in which each participant buys a chance or chances to win a prize
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈraffled or ˈraffling
2.
to offer as a prize in a raffle
often with off
verb intransitive
3. Rare
to take part in a raffle
with for
Derived forms
raffler (ˈraffler)
noun
Word origin
ME rafle < MFr, dice game, lit., a raking in < OHG raffel, a rake, scraper, akin to OE hreppan, to touch, grasp < IE base *(s)ker-, to cut > harvest
raffle in American English2
(ˈræfəl)
noun
a jumble or tangle, esp. of ropes, canvas, etc. on a ship
Word origin
prob. < Fr, a sweeping together, raking in: see raffle1
Examples of 'raffle' in a sentence
raffle
Prize luck looks good, so keep your raffle tickets in a safe place.
The Sun (2016)
You can enter up to ten raffle numbers.
The Sun (2014)
Buy two entries and you get two raffle numbers.
The Sun (2012)
It is like entering a raffle when the winning ticket has already been drawn.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You can enter up to ten raffle lines each week.
The Sun (2013)
Troops should not have to sell raffle tickets or rely on charity.
The Sun (2014)
You can enter numbers from both draws and play up to ten raffle numbers each week.
The Sun (2014)
Team members who hit targets for new clients receive cash bonuses and raffle tickets for the car.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Luck is linked to two charity raffle tickets.
The Sun (2008)
Use your raffle number from your Lotto ticket to enter the draw.
The Sun (2015)
For full details and to enter the raffle, go to our website.
The Sun (2012)
Enter the raffle numbers on our site before noon on Sunday.
The Sun (2013)
Enter the raffle numbers online.
The Sun (2013)
A raffle to win hearts and minds?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
A raffle ticket can win for you.
The Sun (2008)
A charity raffle ticket wins for you.
The Sun (2007)
We will announce the first name of each of our winners, the town where they live and the winning raffle numbers.
The Sun (2013)
You can enter up to ten raffle numbers but each must have a unique Sun Code.
The Sun (2015)
He is already a Sun+ member and entered one of the Lotto raffle lines under his ownname.
The Sun (2013)
You can enter up to ten raffle numbers but each must be accompanied by a unique Sun Code.
The Sun (2015)
Hold a raffle There are issues to consider with this one, such as whether it is run as a raffle or a competition.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
THE winner of a 12million EuroMillions raffle prize has just over two weeks to claim the cash before it goes to charity.
The Sun (2013)
In other languages
raffle
British English: raffle /ˈræfl/ NOUN
A raffle is a competition in which you buy numbered tickets. Afterwards some numbers are chosen and if your ticket has one of these numbers on it, you win a prize.