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riot

[rahy-uh t]
See more synonyms for riot on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a noisy, violent public disorder caused by a group or crowd of persons, as by a crowd protesting against another group, a government policy, etc., in the streets.
  2. Law. a disturbance of the public peace by three or more persons acting together in a disrupting and tumultuous manner in carrying out their private purposes.
  3. violent or wild disorder or confusion.
  4. a brilliant display: a riot of color.
  5. something or someone hilariously funny: You were a riot at the party.
  6. unrestrained revelry.
  7. an unbridled outbreak, as of emotions, passions, etc.
  8. Archaic. loose, wanton living; profligacy.
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verb (used without object)
  1. to take part in a riot or disorderly public outbreak.
  2. to live in a loose or wanton manner; indulge in unrestrained revelry: Many of the Roman emperors rioted notoriously.
  3. Hunting. (of a hound or pack) to pursue an animal other than the intended quarry.
  4. to indulge unrestrainedly; run riot.
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verb (used with object)
  1. to spend (money, time, etc.) in riotous living (usually followed by away or out).
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Idioms
  1. run riot,
    1. to act without control or restraint: The neighbors let their children run riot.
    2. to grow luxuriantly or abundantly: Crab grass is running riot in our lawn.
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Origin of riot

1175–1225; (noun) Middle English: debauchery, revel, violent disturbance < Old French riot(e) debate, dispute, quarrel, derivative of rihoter, riot(t)er to quarrel; (v.) Middle English rioten < Old French rihoter, riot(t)er
Related formsri·ot·er, nounan·ti·ri·ot, adjective, nouncoun·ter·ri·ot·er, nounnon·ri·ot·er, nounnon·ri·ot·ing, adjectiveun·ri·ot·ing, adjective

Synonyms

See more synonyms for riot on Thesaurus.com
1. outbreak, brawl, fray, melee. 3. uproar, tumult, disturbance. 9. brawl, fight. 10. carouse.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for riot

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • The riot had now changed into open mutiny among these marshmen and miners.

    Micah Clarke

    Arthur Conan Doyle

  • This man was Hugh; and in every part of the riot, he was seen.

    Barnaby Rudge

    Charles Dickens

  • There was a riot in the streets; in one house the poison cup was ready.

    Things as They Are

    Amy Wilson-Carmichael

  • I believe you'd raise a riot in the cemetry if you were dead, you would.

  • It were blasphemy to call this riot the desire for progress for the masses.

    Blood and Iron

    John Hubert Greusel

British Dictionary definitions for riot

riot

noun
    1. a disturbance made by an unruly mob or (in law) three or more persons; tumult or uproar
    2. (as modifier)a riot gun; riot police; a riot shield
  2. boisterous activity; unrestrained revelry
  3. an occasion of boisterous merriment
  4. slang a person who occasions boisterous merriment
  5. a dazzling or arresting displaya riot of colour
  6. hunting the indiscriminate following of any scent by hounds
  7. archaic wanton lasciviousness
  8. run riot
    1. to behave wildly and without restraint
    2. (of plants) to grow rankly or profusely
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verb
  1. (intr) to take part in a riot
  2. (intr) to indulge in unrestrained revelry or merriment
  3. (tr foll by away) to spend (time or money) in wanton or loose livinghe has rioted away his life
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Derived Formsrioter, nounrioting, noun

Word Origin

C13: from Old French riote dispute, from ruihoter to quarrel, probably from ruir to make a commotion, from Latin rugīre to roar
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 riot

n.

c.1200, "debauchery, extravagance, wanton living," from Old French riote (12c.) "dispute, quarrel, (tedious) talk, chattering, argument, domestic strife," also a euphemism for "sexual intercourse," of uncertain origin. Cf. Medieval Latin riota "quarrel, dispute, uproar, riot." Perhaps from Latin rugire "to roar." Meaning "public disturbance" is first recorded late 14c. Meaning "something spectacularly successful" first recorded 1909 in theater slang.

Run riot is first recorded 1520s, a metaphoric extension from Middle English meaning in reference to hounds following the wrong scent. The Riot Act, part of which must be read to a mob before active measures can be taken, was passed 1714 (1 Geo. I, st.2, c.5). Riot girl and alternative form riot grrl first recorded 1992.

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v.

late 14c., "behave in a dissolute manner, engage in loose revelry," from Old French rioter "chatter, dispute, quarrel," from riote (see riot (n.)). Meaning "take part in a public disturbance" is from 1755. Related: Rioted; rioting.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Idioms and Phrases with riot

riot

see read the riot act; run amok (riot).

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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.