riot

[rahy-uht]

|||

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).

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

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 for riot

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. 2019

Related Words for riot

turmoil, disturbance, brawl, strife, uproar, protest, storm, turbulence, lawlessness, trouble, anarchy, panic, rampage, burst, ruckus, scene, hassle, racket, free-for-all, flap

Examples from the Web for riot

Contemporary Examples of 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
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
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
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
When the vote was announced and people were informed that MPs had voted against gay equality, there was a riot.
The Queer Genius of Film Director Derek Jarman
Tim Teeman
November 1, 2014

Historical Examples of riot

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.
The Universal Reciter
Various
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

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 Formsrioter, 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

Word Origin and History for riot

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.

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.

Idioms and Phrases with riot

riot

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