Meaning

A tumultuous disturbance of the public peace by a large group of people, often involving violence or damage to property..

Definitions by Sense

1. A tumultuous disturbance of the public peace by a large group of people, often involving violence or damage to property.
2. (figurative) A wide and unconstrained variety.
3. (colloquial, uncountable) A humorous or entertaining event or person.
4. Wanton or unrestrained behavior or emotion.
5. (obsolete) Excessive and expensive feasting; wild and loose festivity; revelry.
6. (intransitive) To create or take part in a riot; to raise an uproar or sedition.
7. (intransitive, obsolete) To act in an unrestrained or wanton manner; to indulge in excess of feasting, luxury, etc.
8. (transitive) To cause to riot; to throw into a tumult.

Example Sentences

The protests began peacefully but turned into riots after several days.

In summer this flower garden is a riot of colour.

The human world is contracting not only prospectively but to the backward-probing eye of culture-history. Nevertheless we are as yet far from able to reduce the riot of spoken languages to a small number of “stocks.”

Check this out! We have to get this! I can't believe all this stuff! This is a total riot!

For when his head-ſtrong Riot hath no Curbe,

the lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day

The nuclear protesters rioted outside the military base.

Now he exact of all, wastes in delight, / Riots in pleasure, and neglects the law.

Word Forms

• riots
• rioting
• rioted

Synonyms for riot

Related Words

When Should You Use Riot?

Use riot when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

Practice This Word

Frequently Asked Questions