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roost

2 synonyms for roost, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — The perch or spot where a bird settles to sleep, often a branch or a bar inside a coop.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

Rare, literary or technical

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

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

The perch or spot where a bird settles to sleep, often a branch or a bar inside a coop.

“The hens filed onto the roost as the sun went down.”

2. verb

To settle somewhere to sleep or rest for the night, especially said of birds.

“Starlings roost by the thousand in that stand of trees.”

How to use roost

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

come home to roost a chicken roost roost for the night

Etymology

From Old English hrōst, meaning the wooden framework of a roof or perch — related to Dutch roest and German Rost ("grate").

Full origin of roost →

Frequently asked questions

What does “roost” mean?
The word “roost” means the perch or spot where a bird settles to sleep, often a branch or a bar inside a coop. In plain terms, a roost is where a bird sleeps, and to roost is to settle in for the night there.
How do you pronounce “roost”?
“Roost” is pronounced roost (/ɹust/ in IPA).
How do you use “roost” in a sentence?
Here is “roost” used in a sentence: “The hens filed onto the roost as the sun went down.”
What part of speech is “roost”?
Depending on how it is used, “roost” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “roost” come from?
The word “roost” comes from Old English. From Old English hrōst, meaning the wooden framework of a roof or perch — related to Dutch roest and German Rost ("grate").
How many meanings does “roost” have?
“Roost” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the perch or spot where a bird settles to sleep, often a branch or a bar inside a coop.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.