roar
5 synonyms and 0 antonyms for roar, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To make a loud, deep sound, as from anger, pain, or excitement, or as a large animal does.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use roar
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English rarian, of imitative origin — the word was likely invented to sound like the noise it describes.
Full origin of roar →Frequently asked questions
What does “roar” mean?
The word “roar” means to make a loud, deep sound, as from anger, pain, or excitement, or as a large animal does. In plain terms, a loud, deep, often frightening sound made by an animal, engine, crowd, or person.
How do you pronounce “roar”?
“Roar” is pronounced RAW (/ˈɹoɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “roar” in a sentence?
Here is “roar” used in a sentence: “The lion roared, sending the smaller animals scattering.”
What part of speech is “roar”?
Depending on how it is used, “roar” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “roar” come from?
The word “roar” comes from Old English. From Old English rarian, of imitative origin — the word was likely invented to sound like the noise it describes.
Is “roar” a common word?
“Roar” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “roar” have?
“Roar” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make a loud, deep sound, as from anger, pain, or excitement, or as a large animal does.
What is the difference between roar and shout?
A roar is a loud, deep sound, often associated with anger, pain, excitement, or the cry of a large animal. A shout is simply a loud human vocal cry and does not carry the same deep, animal-like quality that roar implies.
What is a common collocation using roar?
"Roar with laughter" is a common phrase describing loud, uncontrolled laughter, drawing on the noun sense of roar as a loud, deep sound or cry.
Can roar describe sounds other than voices?
Yes. Roar can describe any loud, deep sound, such as the roar of an engine, the roar of a crowd, or the roar of ocean waves, not just a vocal cry.