noun
Common
Larry
LA-ree
Larry (noun) means (informal, chiefly Australian/British) A loud commotion, uproar, or fuss. Example: “The kids kicked up a right larry when the power went out.”
noun
1
(informal, chiefly Australian/British) A loud commotion, uproar, or fuss.
"The kids kicked up a right larry when the power went out."
name
1
A common short form of the given name Laurence or Lawrence.
"No one gets named Larry anymore. It's had it as a name. Think of someone called Larry and you automatically conjure up a guy drinking beer in a sixties rec room."
— Carol Shields, Larry's Party (1998)
"Everyone just calls him Larry."
"Wikipedia co-founder Larry Sanger is alleging that the online encyclopedia has a left-leaning bias and “a lot of problems,” and recently released a nine-point plan to fix it."
— Ray Bogan, Wikipedia co-founder says site has liberal bias — here’s his plan to fix that (2025)
""Larry, name's Larry." I smiled, it was too ridiculous. He was worried about me calling him Lawrence instead of Larry with a rogue zombie climbing out of the dirt."
— Laurell K. Hamilton, Circus of the Damned (2002)
How to use Larry
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often a nickname for Laurence/Lawrence; informally, also an old-fashioned word for a noisy fuss.
Common pairings
kick up a larry
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Etymology
The name Larry blends and shortens "Laurence"/"Lawrence"; the "commotion" sense is a separate, older informal usage of unclear origin.
Related words
Rhymes for Larry
See all rhymes for Larry →Frequently asked questions
What does “Larry” mean?
The word “Larry” means (informal, chiefly Australian/British) A loud commotion, uproar, or fuss. In plain terms, most often a nickname for Laurence/Lawrence; informally, also an old-fashioned word for a noisy fuss.
How do you pronounce “Larry”?
“Larry” is pronounced LA-ree (/ˈlæ.ɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “Larry” in a sentence?
Here is “Larry” used in a sentence: “The kids kicked up a right larry when the power went out.”
What part of speech is “Larry”?
Depending on how it is used, “Larry” can be a noun and a name.
Is “Larry” a common word?
“Larry” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Larry” have?
“Larry” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: (informal, chiefly Australian/British) A loud commotion, uproar, or fuss.
What is the origin of the name "Larry"?
Larry is a common short form of the given name Laurence or Lawrence. It is used as a familiar, informal version of those fuller names.
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