rabble
Rabble (noun) means a disorderly, unruly crowd of people. Example: “Security struggled to hold back the rabble outside the stadium gates.”
How to use rabble
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA messy, disorderly crowd — often used with contempt for ordinary people en masse.
Almost always negative or condescending in tone.
Word forms
rabbled past tense, rabbled past tense, rabbles plural, rabbles plural, rabbles singular, rabbles singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Security struggled to hold back the _____ outside the stadium gates.
Etymology
From Middle English rablen, meaning to ramble or speak incoherently — the sense shifted from confused talk to a confused, unruly mass of people.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for rabble
See all rhymes for rabble →Frequently asked questions
What does “rabble” mean?
The word “rabble” means a disorderly, unruly crowd of people. In plain terms, a messy, disorderly crowd — often used with contempt for ordinary people en masse.
How do you pronounce “rabble”?
“Rabble” is pronounced RA-buhl (/ˈɹæbəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “rabble” in a sentence?
Here is “rabble” used in a sentence: “Security struggled to hold back the rabble outside the stadium gates.”
What part of speech is “rabble”?
“Rabble” is a noun.
Where does the word “rabble” come from?
The word “rabble” comes from Middle English. From Middle English rablen, meaning to ramble or speak incoherently — the sense shifted from confused talk to a confused, unruly mass of people.
How many meanings does “rabble” have?
“Rabble” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a disorderly, unruly crowd of people.