riot
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.
was rioting
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past progressiveof riot.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Why anybody was rioting in other towns away from Southport, it baffles me," says Mr Iqbal.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2025
“I was in these movements back in the '60s … and I can tell you we never rioted, but there was rioting going on,” he continued.
From Fox News ● Aug. 2, 2020
But he will also condemn Americans who he says have responded inappropriately to Floyd’s death through what he said was rioting and anarchy.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 27, 2020
BALTIMORE, Maryland—On Monday night, there were riots in Baltimore, but it’s hard to say Baltimore was rioting.
From Slate ● Apr. 28, 2015
It was rioting in a perfect orgie of destruction, crushing man's handwork in its passage like so much frail glass in the grasp of a giant.
From Picturesque Quebec : a sequel to Quebec past and present by Sir J. M. (James MacPherson) Le Moine
