riot

[rahy-uht]

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.

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 ).

riot

/ 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

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of riot¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of riot¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

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.

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

Example Sentences

“What they’re trying to do with these riots and violence is distract us and keep us from going after those murderers and rapists that are out in the streets,” Noem said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A White House spokeswoman said earlier Sunday that the president “exercised his lawful authority to protect federal assets and personnel in Portland following violent riots and attacks on law enforcement.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Three protesters have died in the riots, and a police officer was fatally shot in the head as he was talking to protesters, authorities said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The French leader also pledged on Thursday to set up an emergency fund to help repair the damage caused by the riots.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

At least 72 people died in the riots, and more than 2,000 were injured.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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

When To Use

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.