commotion

[kuh-moh-shuhn]

noun

1. violent or tumultuous motion; agitation; noisy disturbance.

   What's all the commotion in the hallway?

   Synonyms: bustle, turbulence, riot, tumult, turmoil, disorder

2. political or social disturbance or upheaval; sedition; insurrection.

commotion

/ kəˈməʊʃən /

noun

1. violent disturbance; upheaval

2. political insurrection; disorder

3. a confused noise; din

Other Word Forms

• commotional adjective
• commotive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of commotion¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin commōtiōn-, stem of commōtiō, from commōt(us) “disturbed” (past participle of commovēre “to displace, disturb,” literally, “to move together”; commove ) + -iō -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of commotion¹

C15: from Latin commōtiō, from commovēre to throw into disorder, from com- (intensive) + movēre to _move

Idioms and Phrases

see cause a commotion.

Synonym Study

See ado.

Example Sentences

The commotion was around the corner in Rivas’ hometown, a Los Angeles suburb locals call “Mexican Beverly Hills” for its stately houses and affluent Hispanic families.

Read more on Salon

But somehow the commotion remained strictly outdoors; the only distractions inside came from the orchestra’s ardent fans routinely applauding between movements.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He relished the challenge of proving the doubters wrong, privately and publicly stating the external commotion was not a concern.

Read more on BBC

Churchill also watched as, he later said, “under my very window a gentleman cast himself down fifteen storeys and was dashed to pieces, causing a wild commotion and the arrival of the fire brigade.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The former army captain survived, and the shock and commotion caused by the attack boosted his outsider image and helped carry him to victory weeks later.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• agitation 
• annoyance 
• brouhaha 
• bustle 
• confusion 
• excitement 
• ferment 
• flap 
• furor 
• fuss 
• hubbub 
• outcry 
• pandemonium 
• rebellion 
• revolt 
• tumult 
• turbulence 
• upheaval