riot

[ rahy-uht ]

/ ˈraɪ ət /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR riot ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.

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.

violent or wild disorder or confusion.

a brilliant display: a riot of color.

something or someone hilariously funny: You were a riot at the party.

unrestrained revelry.

an unbridled outbreak, as of emotions, passions, etc.

Archaic. loose, wanton living; profligacy.

verb (used without object)

to take part in a riot or disorderly public outbreak.

to live in a loose or wanton manner; indulge in unrestrained revelry: Many of the Roman emperors rioted notoriously.

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

to indulge unrestrainedly; run riot.

verb (used with object)

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

Nearby words

rioja, riolan's anastomosis, riomaggiore, rion strait, riopelle, riot, riot act, riot gun, riot shield, riot squad, riotous

Idioms

run riot,

to act without control or restraint: The neighbors let their children run riot.
to grow luxuriantly or abundantly: Crab grass is running riot in our lawn.

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

SYNONYMS FOR riot

1 outbreak, brawl, fray, melee.

3 uproar, tumult, disturbance.

9 brawl, fight.

10 carouse.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR riot ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

ri·ot·er, nounan·ti·ri·ot, adjective, nouncoun·ter·ri·ot·er, nounnon·ri·ot·er, noun

non·ri·ot·ing, adjectiveun·ri·ot·ing, adjective

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

Examples from the Web for riot

They made one last charge for the airport, and when the riot police blocked them again a melee ensued.
Mexican Protesters Look to Start a New Revolution|Jason McGahan|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Riot police eventually converged from the flanks, hundreds at first, then hundreds more, with shields and batons.
Mexican Protesters Look to Start a New Revolution|Jason McGahan|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The riot police advanced on the crowd and the crowd gave some ground but did not retreat.
Mexican Protesters Look to Start a New Revolution|Jason McGahan|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A battalion of riot police armed with shotguns arrived on the scene.
Honoring The Late John Doar, A Nearly Forgotten Hero Of The Civil Rights Era|Gary May|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST

On some days there have been more police water-cannon trucks and riot shields on show than tanks.
When ISIS Is An Excuse For A Police State|Jamie Dettmer|October 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At this time there was a bad feeling among the prisoners, and they daily expected a riot.
Travels Through North America, v. 1-2|Berhard Saxe-Weimar Eisenach
The death of Amber was as nothing to the death of Chitor—a body whence the life had been driven by riot and the sword.
From Sea to Sea|Rudyard Kipling
Rose vines, clambering at will over the picturesque old dwelling, were a riot of colors.
Sisters|Grace May North
Meanwhile round the hall of the diet a riot had broken out; the soldiers intervened and blood was shed.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 1|Various
On this memorable day of the riot his arms were not folded on his chest.
Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard|Joseph Conrad

British Dictionary definitions for riot

riot

/ (ˈraɪət) /

noun

a disturbance made by an unruly mob or (in law) three or more persons; tumult or uproar
(as modifier)a riot gun; riot police; a riot shield

boisterous activity; unrestrained revelry

an occasion of boisterous merriment

slang a person who occasions boisterous merriment

a dazzling or arresting displaya riot of colour

hunting the indiscriminate following of any scent by hounds

archaic wanton lasciviousness

run riot

to behave wildly and without restraint
(of plants) to grow rankly or profusely

verb

(intr) to take part in a riot

(intr) to indulge in unrestrained revelry or merriment

(tr foll by away) to spend (time or money) in wanton or loose livinghe has rioted away his life

Derived Forms

rioter, nounrioting, noun

Word Origin for riot

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

Idioms and Phrases with riot

riot

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