riot

American  

[rahy-uht] / ˈraɪ ət /

noun

• riots
  plural

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)

• riots,
  present (3rd person singular)
• rioted,
  past participle,  past
• rioting
  present participle

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)

• riots,
  present (3rd person singular)
• rioted,
  past participle,  past
• rioting
  present participle

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

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• riots
  plural

Participles

• rioting
  present
• rioted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• riot
  simple
• riots
  simple
• have rioted
  perfect
• has rioted
  perfect
• am rioting
  progressive
• are rioting
  progressive
• is rioting
  progressive
• have been rioting
  perfect progressive
• has been rioting
  perfect progressive

Past

• rioted
  simple
• had rioted
  perfect
• was rioting
  progressive
• were rioting
  progressive
• had been rioting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will riot
  simple
• will have rioted
  perfect
• will be rioting
  progressive
• will have been rioting
  perfect progressive

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

Explanation

A riot is a violent outburst by a crowd. When the principal didn't declare a snow day, even with five inches on the ground already, students rioted, gathering outside and throwing snowballs. The meaning of riot has stretched over the years. You would say "She is a riot" about a funny or outrageous person. A loud clothing combination might represent a riot of texture and color. When something runs riot, it has been allowed to get out of control.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

riot riots rioted rioting

“Vince . . . basically threatened to fire me if I ever brought it up again and read me the riot act,” Ventura explained on The Steve Austin Show.

From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2026

He said he will be waiting for Boutcher to let him know when the meeting would happen, adding: "Or is he going to hide behind a wall of uniforms of police in riot gear?"

From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026

Where, literally, would Angelenos be without the flying eyes that guide us to our destinations through our traffic mangles and bring us close to mayhem, riot and fire?

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

Four of those hurt were taken to hospital, riot police said in a press release.

From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026

When they were far enough from the riot of traffic and out of earshot of anyone on shore, Somkit cut the motor off.

From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat

His gaze shifts past snapshots he once documented of historical taut moments in Los Angeles like the 1966 Sunset Strip riots of West Hollywood or the 1970 Chicano Moratorium in Boyle Heights.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

Last month authorities detained nine people and seized 10 social media accounts for allegedly spreading disinformation about possible riots, though they did not disclose who was behind it.

From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026

But, at the same time as social media posts were circulating organising the riots, something else was happening online.

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026

"Meeting Nidhi and Vik at home after the riots this week made it all the more poignant," she said.

From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2026

“I guess the riots have thrown everything off. Still...”

From "Dactyl Hill Squad" by Daniel José Older

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 ● Dec. 31, 2025

Dunn said officers wanted acknowledgment for those members of law enforcement who were present at the insurrection, as well as accountability from those who rioted.

From Salon ● Jun. 12, 2025

Hearst’s desperate father, publisher of the San Francisco Examiner, spent $2 million on a food giveaway, and crowds rioted as food was flung from trucks.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2024

In October 1962, federal marshals escorted Meredith as he enrolled as the first Black student at the University of Mississippi, while white people rioted on the Oxford campus.

From Washington Times ● Jun. 26, 2023

The streets rioted in all directions, twisting around in a confusing way.

From "The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm" by Nancy Farmer

It has so far arrested 39 people in connection with the rioting.

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026

District Court for the Northern District of Texas were convicted of rioting and providing material support to terrorists, among other charges.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026

Amid rioting, the shah fled Iran once again on Jan. 16, 1979, never to return.

From Barron's ● Mar. 5, 2026

They would be elderly people rioting, but they would still riot.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 27, 2026

If it weren’t for my rioting heart, I’d swear I’d left my body.

From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

Related Words

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