ruckus

noun

ruck·​us

ˈrə-kəs,

 also  ˈrü-,

or

ˈru̇- 

plural ruckuses

1

: a noisy fight or disturbance : row, commotion

raise/cause/create a ruckus

heard a ruckus down the street

He went outside to see what all the ruckus was about.

The dogs … typically would set off quite a ruckus whenever they heard something in the woods …

—Larry Livermore

2

: a state or situation in which many people are angry or upset : fuss, uproar

… IHOP recently caused a social media ruckus after announcing it would change its name …

—Lauren Delgado

… the county's GOP is embroiled in a lively legal ruckus over an attempt to seize control of the party.

—Charles Burress

Synonyms

• brawl
• clash
• altercation

Examples of ruckus in a Sentence

the ruckus left one person with a sprained wrist

quit creating such a ruckus—I'm trying to sleep!

Recent Examples on the Web

Through the nineteen-seventies, as Reich and Philip Glass were causing a ruckus in the classical-music establishment, Riley became a liminal figure. —William Robin, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2025

Another man appeared to grab the male fan, and two women from the ruckus exchanged some hair-pulling and punches. —Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2025

Meanwhile, de Armas also caused a minor ruckus by liking a shady Instagram post about Cruise’s ex, Nicole Kidman. —Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 30 July 2025

The utensils party and rabble-rouse and cause a ruckus. —Katherine Larson july 16, Literary Hub, 16 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably blend of ruction and rumpus

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ruckus

• raise a ruckus

Rhymes for ruckus

• ficus
• picus

Kids Definition

ruckus

noun

ruck·​us ˈrək-əs 

ˈrük-,

ˈru̇k-

: row entry 4