commotion

American  

[kuh-moh-shuhn] / kəˈmoʊ ʃən /

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.

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commotion British  

/ kəˈməʊʃən /

noun

1. violent disturbance; upheaval

2. political insurrection; disorder

3. a confused noise; din

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commotion Idioms  

1. see cause a commotion.

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Related Words

See ado.

Other Word Forms

• commotional
  adjective
• commotive
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of commotion

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”; see commove) + -iō -ion

Explanation

A commotion is a noisy disturbance. If you're trying to quietly concentrate on reading this, you wouldn't want the person next to you to cause a commotion, or it would distract you. Commotion, which comes from the Middle French word commocion, means "violent motion, agitation." It can be a disorderly outburst or disruption, like someone yelling in the street at night, or five people arguing about someone talking on a cellphone while a play is being performed in front of them. Commotion can also describe out-of-control movement, like people pushing and shoving to get to the front row of a concert.

Example Sentences

In his opening arguments, Haytham Faraj, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said Orellana-Peralta and her mother had hidden in a changing room on the second floor amid the commotion of the police response.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

Isaac, a volunteer with community security group Shomrim, had been driving away from his office when he heard a commotion and left his car.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

Less frequent are the moments in the middle; good days with little commotion, ones that warrant personal reflection but don’t have the same emotional resonance in a relatively standard biopic like this one.

From Salon • Apr. 26, 2026

Alexandra Ingersoll, a correspondent for One America News, told AFP she was inside when the commotion began, and saw Secret Service spring into action to protect the president.

From Barron's • Apr. 26, 2026

While everyone else’s attention was on the commotion above, we made a hasty dash through the gates.

From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff

Related Words

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