roar

American  

[rawr, rohr] / rɔr, roʊr /

verb (used without object)

1. to utter a loud, deep cry or howl, as in excitement, distress, or anger.

   Synonyms:

   yell, bawl

2. to laugh loudly or boisterously.

   to roar at a joke.

3. to make a loud sound or din, as thunder, cannon, waves, or wind.

   Synonyms:

   peal, thunder, boom, resound

4. to function or move with a loud, deep sound, as a vehicle.

   The automobile roared away.

5. to make a loud noise in breathing, as a horse.

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verb (used with object)

1. to utter or express in a roar.

   to roar denials.

2. to bring, put, make, etc., by roaring.

   to roar oneself hoarse.

noun

1. a loud, deep cry or howl, as of an animal or a person.

   the roar of a lion.

2. a loud, confused, constant noise or sound; din; clamor.

   the roar of the surf; the roar of lively conversation from the crowded party.

3. a loud outburst.

   a roar of laughter; a roar of approval from the audience.

roar British  

/ rɔː /

verb

1. (of lions and other animals) to utter characteristic loud growling cries

2. (also tr) (of people) to utter (something) with a loud deep cry, as in anger or triumph

3. to laugh in a loud hearty unrestrained manner

4. (of horses) to breathe with laboured rasping sounds See roaring

5. (of the wind, waves, etc) to blow or break loudly and violently, as during a storm

6. (of a fire) to burn fiercely with a roaring sound

7. (of a machine, gun, etc) to operate or move with a loud harsh noise

8. (tr) to bring (oneself) into a certain condition by roaring

   to roar oneself hoarse

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noun

1. a loud deep cry, uttered by a person or crowd, esp in anger or triumph

2. a prolonged loud cry of certain animals, esp lions

3. any similar noise made by a fire, the wind, waves, artillery, an engine, etc

4. a loud unrestrained burst of laughter

Related Words

See cry.

Other Word Forms

• outroar
  verb (used with object)
• roarer
  noun
• underroarer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of roar

before 900; Middle English roren (v.), Old English rārian; cognate with Old High German rēren to bellow

Explanation

To roar is to make a ferociously loud sound, like a lion or a tiger. If you go to a football game, you'll hear the crowd roar whenever their team scores a goal. A wild animal roars when it makes its long, full cry, and a person (or a thing) can emit a similar roar. Your boisterous uncle roars with laughter, and the frustrated substitute teacher might roar angrily at the class. Motorcycles sometimes roar down the street, and a judge might silence a courtroom when she roars, "Order!" Roar can also act as a noun, meaning the sound itself — like the roar of the crowd that drowns out your voice. Roar comes from an imitative Old English root.

Example Sentences

Ramezanisadeh and Pasandideh - who have been pictured training with A-League Women's team Brisbane Roar - said they hope to continue their elite sporting careers in Australia.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

Brisbane Roar, a local soccer club, offered the women a place to train and play.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

She has been replaced by Brisbane Roar goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln, with the Portland Thorns' Mackenzie Arnold now Montemurro's number one.

From Barron's • Feb. 21, 2026

Athens-born Postecoglou made his name with title-winning success at South Melbourne and Brisbane Roar in Australia, repeating the feat at Japan's Yokohama F. Marinos.

From Barron's • Oct. 18, 2025

For sharp rocks border it, and all around Roar the wild surges; slippery cliffs arise Close to deep gulfs, and footing there is none, Where I might plant my steps and thus escape.

From Poetical Works of William Cullen Bryant Household Edition by Stoddard, Richard Henry

Related Words

• barrage
• blast
• boom
• clamor
• cry
• drum
• explosion
• outcry
• rumble
• shout
• thunder
• uproar