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

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

Johnson banged on the gavel, demanding order as the commotion continued.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The commotion and noise are unnerving; cars speed by so close you can feel whooshes as they pass.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Actually, Harbaugh didn’t see the crash, but he heard the commotion.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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