roar

[ rawr, rohr ]

/ rɔr, roʊr /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR roar ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object)

to utter a loud, deep cry or howl, as in excitement, distress, or anger.

to laugh loudly or boisterously: to roar at a joke.

to make a loud sound or din, as thunder, cannon, waves, or wind.

to function or move with a loud, deep sound, as a vehicle: The automobile roared away.

to make a loud noise in breathing, as a horse.

verb (used with object)

to utter or express in a roar: to roar denials.

to bring, put, make, etc., by roaring: to roar oneself hoarse.

noun

a loud, deep cry or howl, as of an animal or a person: the roar of a lion.

a loud, confused, constant noise or sound; din; clamor: the roar of the surf; the roar of lively conversation from the crowded party.

a loud outburst: a roar of laughter; a roar of approval from the audience.

Nearby words

Origin of roar

before 900; Middle English roren (v.), Old English rārian; cognate with Old High German rēren to bellow

SYNONYMS FOR roar

1 bawl, yell.

3 resound, boom, thunder, peal.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR roar ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsroar·er, nounout·roar, verb (used with object)un·der·roar·er, noun

Synonym study

1. See cry.

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

Examples from the Web for roar

It will just take time for those little murmurs to become a roar.
Sororities Finally Take Back the Night|Kelsey Meany|September 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I was sleeping late after a long weekend of work, when my girlfriend heard the roar of its engines approaching.
The Resilient City: New York After 9/11|John Avlon|September 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I thought about Al, pushed onto the hood of the car at the airport, the roar of planes taking off and landing in the background.
Almost Famous: A Father's Day Story|Alex Belth|June 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But no matter, we are allergic and getting more allergic, hear us roar (and sniffle and whine and hack).
Blame Climate Change for Your Terrible Seasonal Allergies|Kent Sepkowitz|May 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST

At least when an all-too-real attack came on Wednesday morning, there was only the flashing of blades, not the roar of gunfire.
Thank God the Murrysville School Attack Wasn’t Guns|Michael Daly|April 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A roar of laughter greeted this candid confession of future intentions.
The Revellers|Louis Tracy
The volume of the Rjukan fall is enormous, its height very considerable, and its roar deafening.
Ticket No. "9672"|Jules Verne
Wild were the plaudits of the multitude, but the lion was staggering and his roar was muffled.
Ulric the Jarl|William O. Stoddard
There was a roar of approval from the army at this alluring suggestion.
Days of the Discoverers|L. Lamprey
The roar of the traffic and the clatter of footsteps and the grumble of voices swirled like dance music about Andrews's head.
Three Soldiers|John Dos Passos

British Dictionary definitions for roar

roar

/ (rɔː) /

verb (mainly intr)

(of lions and other animals) to utter characteristic loud growling cries

(also tr) (of people) to utter (something) with a loud deep cry, as in anger or triumph

to laugh in a loud hearty unrestrained manner

(of horses) to breathe with laboured rasping soundsSee roaring (def. 6)

(of the wind, waves, etc) to blow or break loudly and violently, as during a storm

(of a fire) to burn fiercely with a roaring sound

(of a machine, gun, etc) to operate or move with a loud harsh noise

(tr) to bring (oneself) into a certain condition by roaringto roar oneself hoarse

noun

a loud deep cry, uttered by a person or crowd, esp in anger or triumph

a prolonged loud cry of certain animals, esp lions

any similar noise made by a fire, the wind, waves, artillery, an engine, etc

a loud unrestrained burst of laughter

Word Origin for roar

Old English rārian; related to Old High German rērēn, Middle Dutch reren

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 roar (1 of 2)

roar

Old English rarian "roar, wail, lament, bellow, cry," probably of imitative origin (cf. Middle Dutch reeren, German röhren "to roar;" Sanskrit ragati "barks;" Lithuanian reju "to scold;" Old Church Slavonic revo "I roar;" Latin raucus "hoarse"). Related: Roared; roaring.

Word Origin and History for roar (1 of 2)

roar

late 14c., from roar (v.) and Old English gerar.

roar

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of roar

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for roar

British Dictionary definitions for roar

roar

verb (mainly intr)

noun

Word Origin for roar

Word Origin and History for roar (1 of 2)

roar

Word Origin and History for roar (1 of 2)

roar