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noun

commotion

kuh-MOH-shuhn
noun
1
A sudden burst of noisy confusion or disturbance.
"There was a commotion in the hallway as the fire alarm went off."
"A commotion broke out among the crowd when the results were announced."

How to Use Commotion

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA noisy, chaotic fuss or disturbance.

Common pairings
cause a commotion a commotion broke out amid the commotion

Word Forms

commotions plural

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There was a _____ in the hallway as the fire alarm went off.

Etymology

From Latin commotio ("agitation, disturbance"), from commovere ("to stir up violently") — the same root as "commove" and "motion."

Related Words

Rhymes for commotion

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