noun
Common
riot
REYE-uht
Riot (noun) means a violent public disturbance caused by a crowd. Example: “Extra officers stood outside the stadium to prevent a riot.”
noun
1
A violent public disturbance caused by a crowd.
"Extra officers stood outside the stadium to prevent a riot."
"Shops boarded up their windows as fears of a riot grew."
"A riot broke out after the controversial verdict."
2
(informal) Someone or something hilariously funny or wildly entertaining.
"Our uncle is a riot at parties and has everyone laughing."
"The school play was a riot from start to finish."
"The comedian was an absolute riot."
verb
1
To take part in a violent public disturbance.
"The newspaper warned that unhappy fans might riot after the match."
"Hundreds of people began to riot outside the closed stadium."
"Fans rioted in the streets after the team's loss."
How to use riot
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA violent crowd disturbance, or informally, something extremely funny.
Common pairings
riot police
break out into a riot
a riot of color
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Word forms
- Plural
- riots
- Third person singular
- riots
- Past tense
- rioted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Extra officers stood outside the stadium to prevent a _____.
Etymology
From Old French riote, "a dispute or quarrel," ultimately linked to the verb rioter, "to quarrel."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for riot
See all rhymes for riot →Frequently asked questions
What does “riot” mean?
The word “riot” means a violent public disturbance caused by a crowd. In plain terms, a violent crowd disturbance, or informally, something extremely funny.
How do you pronounce “riot”?
“Riot” is pronounced REYE-uht (/ˈɹaɪ.ət/ in IPA).
How do you use “riot” in a sentence?
Here is “riot” used in a sentence: “A riot broke out after the controversial verdict.”
What is another word for “riot”?
Words with a similar meaning to “riot” include anarchy, breach of the peace, chaos, discord, trouble and disorder.
What part of speech is “riot”?
Depending on how it is used, “riot” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “riot” come from?
The word “riot” comes from Old French. From Old French riote, "a dispute or quarrel," ultimately linked to the verb rioter, "to quarrel.".
Is “riot” a common word?
“Riot” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “riot” have?
“Riot” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a violent public disturbance caused by a crowd.
What is the difference between a riot and a protest?
A protest is a public expression of objection and can be entirely peaceful and lawful. A riot is a violent public disturbance caused by a crowd, typically involving destruction or fighting. A protest can turn into a riot, but the two words are not interchangeable.
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