Riot Definition & Meaning

American

British

More Idioms

Usage

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms riot American [rahy-uht] / ˈraɪ ət /

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 ).

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

"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

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

"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 riot More Idioms

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

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

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

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

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.

Mr. Turley describes the Philadelphia mob’s 1779 assault on the home of James Wilson—what would come to be known as the Fort Wilson riot.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From Los Angeles Times

Pictures have shown those taking part in the Britain First march and counter protesters coming against lines of police in riot gear.

From BBC

Western diplomats in Damascus assessed that more than 20,000 people fled the camp in a matter of days earlier amid rioting and a surge of escape attempts.

From The Wall Street Journal

The song was credited with summing up the depressed mood of the country at the time, with riots in several British cities in 1981.

From BBC

Related Words

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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.