rant

[ rant ]

/ rænt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rant ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object)

to speak or declaim extravagantly or violently; talk in a wild or vehement way; rave: The demagogue ranted for hours.

verb (used with object)

to utter or declaim in a ranting manner.

noun

ranting, extravagant, or violent declamation.

a ranting utterance.

RELATED WORDS

raving, angry, insane, mad

Nearby words

Origin of rant

First recorded in 1590–1600, rant is from the Dutch word ranten (obsolete) to talk foolishly

SYNONYMS FOR rant

3. bombast, extravagance.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rant ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsrant·er, nounrant·ing·ly, adverbout·rant, verb (used with object)un·rant·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ranting

Perhaps we can ignore the ranting of the Kim regime, but Chinese nuclear threats are particularly worrisome.
Putin Threatens Nuclear War Over Ukraine|Gordon G. Chang|August 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Had Richard III been able to install a tape recorder in his palaces the ranting might well have been identical.
Three Dicks: Cheney, Nixon, Richard III and the Art of Reputation Rehab|Clive Irving|July 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When Bratton descended to the trains, a man was pacing the platform edge, ranting in Spanish.
My Patrol With the NYPD’s Bill Bratton|Michael Daly|March 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
People tend to roll their eyes and give Nugent a pass because the ranting is seen as just part of his schtick.
GOP’s Wango Tango With Ted Nugent|Michelle Cottle|February 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But Prince Bandar was not the only Saudi Prince who is ranting.
Saudi Fears and Mysteries|Leslie H. Gelb|October 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST
At the evening meal Windy McPherson had talked voluminously, ranting and shouting about the house.
Windy McPherson's Son|Sherwood Anderson
Another revulsion of feeling mastered her; she no longer thought of him as ranting; she felt his words too strongly for that.
The Whirligig of Time|Wayland Wells Williams
Teach him that the men of Ulverston are sensible fellows, and not to be led astray by a ranting Quaker!'
A Book of Quaker Saints|Lucy Violet Hodgkin
The very piper was delighted with the ranting chield, and ever, as his clap and hoogh!
Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland|Various
I got him away from the gang he was ranting to and had a little talk with him.
Baseball Joe in the World Series|Lester Chadwick

British Dictionary definitions for ranting

rant

/ (rænt) /

verb

to utter (something) in loud, violent, or bombastic tones

(intr) mainly Scot to make merry; frolic

noun

loud, declamatory, or extravagant speech; bombast

mainly Scot a wild revel

Scot an energetic dance or its tune

Derived Formsranter, nounranting, adjective, nounrantingly, adverb

Word Origin for rant

C16: from Dutch ranten to rave; related to German ranzen to gambol

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for ranting

rant

c.1600, "to be jovial and boisterous," also "to talk bombastically," from Dutch randten (earlier ranten) "talk foolishly, rave," of unknown origin (cf. German rantzen "to frolic, spring about"). Related: Ranted; ranting. Ranters "antinomian sect which arose in England c.1645" is attested from 1651; applied 1823 to early Methodists. A 1700 slang dictionary has rantipole "a rude wild Boy or Girl" (also as a verb and adjective); to ride rantipole meant "The woman uppermost in the amorous congress" [Grose].

rant

"boisterous, empty declamation; fierce or high-sounding language without much meaning or dignity of thought; bombast; a ranting speech," 1640s, from rant (v.).

rant

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of rant

Examples from the Web for ranting

rant

verb

noun

Word Origin for rant

rant

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