riot

USRY-uht/ˈɹaɪ.ət/

Pluralriots

Verbriots, rioting, rioted

9 meanings of riot

Practice

1
nouncountable or uncountable
A situation where a large angry crowd becomes violent and breaks things in public.
The game was canceled after a riot started outside the stadium.
During the riot, people broke windows and set cars on fire.
Similardisturbance, uprising, rampage, disorder, unrest
Note
2
verbintransitive
To join a large angry crowd that becomes violent in public.
Angry fans began to riot after the team lost the final.
People rioted in the streets when food prices went up.
Similarrampage, revolt, rebel
3
nouncolloquialuncountable
A person or thing that makes everyone laugh a lot.
Your little brother is a riot. He kept us laughing all night.
The school play was a riot from start to finish.
Similarscream, hoot, laugh, blast
Oppositebore
4
nounfigurativelycountable or uncountable
A wild and exciting mix of many different things.
Like a box of crayons spilled across the floor: colors everywhere, all mixed together.
The garden was a riot of red, yellow, and purple flowers.
The market was a riot of smells, sounds, and bright cloth.
Similarprofusion, explosion, medley, jumble, abundance
Note
5
nouncountable or uncountable
Wild behavior or strong feelings that are out of control.
His imagination ran riot when the lights went out.
Weeds had run riot all over the empty yard.
Similarturmoil, tumult, frenzy
Oppositerestraint
Note
6
verbtransitive
To make a group of people start fighting and breaking things.
His shouting could riot even a calm crowd.
The unfair ruling rioted the fans in the stands.
Similarincite, provoke, inflame, agitate, stir
Oppositecalm, pacify
Note
7
verbtransitive
To make someone feel annoyed or angry about something.
Don't riot your sister with all those silly questions.
It riots me when people talk during movies.
Similarannoy, irritate, irk, bother, vex

Less common meanings

8
nounobsoletecountable or uncountable
Wild parties with too much eating, drinking, and spending.
The young lord wasted his money on nights of riot and feasting.
the lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day
1733, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Man.Here, riot means wasteful feasting and too much indulgence.
Note
9
verbobsoleteintransitive
To live wildly, spending too much on food, drink, and fun.
Now he exact of all, wastes in delight, / Riots in pleasure, and neglects the law.
1595, Samuel Daniel, The First Fowre Bookes of the Ciuile Wars between the Two Houses of Lancaster and YorkeHere, Riots means indulges wildly and without limits.
Note

Practice

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Origin

From Middle English riot meaning wild or wasteful living, which came from Old French riote meaning a quarrel or debate.