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 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.

From BBC

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

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Los Angeles Times

Woken up by the commotion, the men told the women and children to stay inside while they went out to stop the gunmen.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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