roar
RAW
Roar (verb) means to make a loud, deep sound, as from anger, pain, or excitement, or as a large animal does. Example: “The lion roared, sending the smaller animals scattering.”
verb
1
To make a loud, deep sound, as from anger, pain, or excitement, or as a large animal does.
"The lion roared, sending the smaller animals scattering."
"The crowd roared as the home team scored."
"When the toddler saw the fireworks, he roared with delight and clapped his hands."
noun
1
A loud, deep sound or cry.
"The roar of the engines drowned out conversation."
"A roar went up from the stands when the winning goal went in."
"We heard the distant roar of a waterfall long before we reached it."
How to use roar
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA loud, deep, often frightening sound made by an animal, engine, crowd, or person.
Common pairings
roar with laughter
roar of the crowd
engine roared to life
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Word forms
- Plural
- roars
- Third person singular
- roars
- Past tense
- roared
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The lion _____, sending the smaller animals scattering.
Etymology
From Old English rarian, of imitative origin — the word was likely invented to sound like the noise it describes.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for roar
See all rhymes for roar →Frequently asked questions
What does “roar” mean?
The word “roar” means to make a loud, deep sound, as from anger, pain, or excitement, or as a large animal does. In plain terms, a loud, deep, often frightening sound made by an animal, engine, crowd, or person.
How do you pronounce “roar”?
“Roar” is pronounced RAW (/ˈɹoɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “roar” in a sentence?
Here is “roar” used in a sentence: “The lion roared, sending the smaller animals scattering.”
What part of speech is “roar”?
Depending on how it is used, “roar” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “roar” come from?
The word “roar” comes from Old English. From Old English rarian, of imitative origin — the word was likely invented to sound like the noise it describes.
Is “roar” a common word?
“Roar” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “roar” have?
“Roar” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make a loud, deep sound, as from anger, pain, or excitement, or as a large animal does.
What is the difference between roar and shout?
A roar is a loud, deep sound, often associated with anger, pain, excitement, or the cry of a large animal. A shout is simply a loud human vocal cry and does not carry the same deep, animal-like quality that roar implies.
What is a common collocation using roar?
"Roar with laughter" is a common phrase describing loud, uncontrolled laughter, drawing on the noun sense of roar as a loud, deep sound or cry.
Can roar describe sounds other than voices?
Yes. Roar can describe any loud, deep sound, such as the roar of an engine, the roar of a crowd, or the roar of ocean waves, not just a vocal cry.
