riot

1 of 2

noun

ri·​ot ˈrī-ət 

1

a

: a violent public disorder

specifically, law : a violent disturbance of the public peace by three or more persons assembled together that presents a danger of injury to a person or property

b

: public violence, tumult, or disorder

2

: a random or disorderly profusion

the woods were a riot of color

3

: one that is wildly amusing

The new comedy is a riot.

Your friend is a riot.

4

archaic

a

: profligate behavior : debauchery

b

: unrestrained revelry

c

: noise, uproar, or disturbance made by revelers

riot

2 of 2

verb

rioted; rioting; riots

intransitive verb

1

: to create or engage in a riot

2

: to indulge in revelry or wantonness

rioter noun

Synonyms of riot

Noun

• hoot
• scream
• laugh

Examples of riot in a Sentence

Noun

The news about the election caused a riot in the city.

A lot of property was damaged in the recent riots.

The woods are a riot of color in the autumn.

The movie was an absolute riot.

Verb

Students rioted after their team lost the football game.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

By the 1990s, when there wasn’t a single Top 40 station in the country playing the entire Top Ten, MTV was the most eclectic music source around, a nationwide 24-hour teenage riot of noise and chaos and cool. —Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 16 Nov. 2025

Magic City residents share their own fraught relationship with police dating back before the 1963 Birmingham riot. —Jay Stahl, USA Today, 16 Nov. 2025

Verb

But here, with Qatar having defeated the United Arab Emirates 2-1, overtaking them to qualify directly and sending their opponents into that meeting with Iraq, travelling Emirati supporters were rioting across the stands. —Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025

Nine defendants pleaded guilty and two were convicted at trial, all of them on the charge of conspiracy to riot, according to prosecutors. —Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French riote rash action, noise, disorder

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing riot

• anti-riot
• pre-riot
• race riot
• read the riot act
• riot act
• riot grrrl
• riot gun
• run riot

Rhymes for riot

• diet
• guyot
• piet
• quiet
• disquiet
• panchayat
• unquiet

Kids Definition

riot

1 of 2 noun

ri·​ot ˈrī-ət 

1

: public violence, disturbance, or disorder

2

: a varied display of color

3

: something or someone very funny

riot

2 of 2 verb

: to create or take part in a riot

rioter noun

Legal Definition

riot

1 of 2 noun

ri·​ot

: a disturbance of the peace created by an assemblage of usually three or more people acting with a common purpose and in a violent and tumultuous manner to the terror of the public

also : the crime of rioting

riot

2 of 2 intransitive verb

: to create or engage in a riot

rioter noun