riot

American  

[rahy-uht] / ˈraɪ ət /

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.

   Synonyms:

   melee, fray, brawl, outbreak

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.

   Synonyms:

   disturbance, tumult, uproar

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.

   Synonyms:

   fight, brawl

2. to live in a loose or wanton manner; indulge in unrestrained revelry.

   Many of the Roman emperors rioted notoriously.

   Synonyms:

   carouse

3. Hunting. (of a hound or pack) to pursue an animal other than the intended quarry.

4. to indulge unrestrainedly; run riot.

verb (used with object)

1. to spend (money, time, etc.) in riotous living (usually followed by away orout ).

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.

riot British  

/ ˈraɪət /

noun

1. 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 display

   a riot of colour

6. hunting the indiscriminate following of any scent by hounds

7. archaic wanton lasciviousness

8. 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. to spend (time or money) in wanton or loose living

   he has rioted away his life

riot More Idioms  

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

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Usage

What does riot mean? A riot is a situation in which people in a crowd are engaging in violence and/or destruction in the streets or another public space.Riots often involve two or more groups fighting, or one group causing destruction.Riot can also be used as a verb meaning to participate in a riot. Members of the crowd who do this can be called rioters. The word rioting can be used as both a verb and a noun.Violent protests are sometimes called riots. But the term riot is often extremely loaded and used in a way that’s intended to be dismissive of protests and portray protesters as lawless, destructive, or violent. Specifically, the term has been frequently used to portray African American protesters in this way, such as during mass demonstrations. For example, one may try to discredit a protest by calling it a riot or to discredit protesters by calling them rioters. This especially happens when people conflate a protest with other things happening around it, such as looting.The word riot is also used in a much different way to refer to something very funny, especially in the phrase laugh riot. The term implies that it results in intense, unrestrained laughter.Example: The riot outside the stadium left dozens of people injured, along with widespread damage to cars in the parking lot.

Other Word Forms

• antiriot adjective
• counterrioter noun
• nonrioter noun
• nonrioting adjective
• rioter noun
• rioting noun
• unrioting adjective

Etymology

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

Example Sentences

The 120-year-old Craftsman home in the middle of the Hollywood Center Motel had survived earthquakes, flooding, riots, a murder investigation and the raucous force of the rock-n-roll era.

From Los Angeles Times

Though this material provides context, the book’s habit of teasing the titular riot several times and then jumping to another topic gets a bit exasperating.

From The Wall Street Journal

However, riot police were deployed at major intersections and officers were stationed in front of some schools.

From Barron's

Hargeisa, capital of the breakaway Republic of Somaliland, abuts hot spots like Somalia and Yemen but lacks the constant coups, wars, riots, terrorist attacks, ideological reckonings and other usual attractions for roving correspondents.

From The Wall Street Journal

When prisoners rioted over the conditions, their eloquent spokesman Jones was extensively quoted in the press, catching the attention of a church leader.

From BBC

Related Words

• anarchy
• brawl
• disturbance
• lawlessness
• protest
• storm
• strife
• trouble
• turmoil
• uproar