roared; roaring; roars
1
a
: to make the loud sound of a wild animal
b
: to make a long, loud sound
sirens roaring
The engine roared back to life. [=made the loud sound of an engine and began running well]
—sometimes used figurativelyHer career suddenly roared back to life.
c
: to sing or shout with full force
The fans roared when their team scored.
2
a
: to make or emit a loud confused sound (such as background reverberation or rumbling)
b
: to laugh loudly
3
a
: to be boisterous or disorderly
b
: to proceed or rush with great noise or commotion
The truck roared away/off.
—sometimes used figurativelyThe team came roaring back in the last quarter to win the game.
4
: to make a loud noise during inhalation (such as that of a horse affected with roaring)
1
: to utter or proclaim with a roar
"Watch out!" he roared.
—often used with outThe sergeant roared out orders.
2
: to cause to roar
roaring their engines
1
: the deep cry of a wild animal (such as a lion)
2
: a loud deep cry (as of pain or anger)
3
: a loud continuous confused sound
the roar of the crowd
4
: a boisterous outcry
Examples of roar in a Sentence
Verb
We heard a lion roar in the distance.
The joke got the crowd roaring.
The crowd roared its approval.
She roared at him for being late.
Noun
the roar of the airplane engines
the roar of the river
Recent Examples on the Web
CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
The first opportunity the home crowd had to roar came four minutes into the middle frame, when Wild defenseman Jake Middleton exchanged punches with Jets blueliner Luke Schenn.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025
AFAR Media, 30 Oct. 2025
The camera pans out to the hallway as visitors flee, while the gorilla’s roar echoes loudly in the background.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for roar
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show current usage.
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Verb
Heavy tablecloths, thick blankets and a roaring fire are on the mood board for this chapter’s theme, Pelosi said.
—CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
The first opportunity the home crowd had to roar came four minutes into the middle frame, when Wild defenseman Jake Middleton exchanged punches with Jets blueliner Luke Schenn.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
Then a deep, unmistakable roar of a lion rolled across the flatness.
—AFAR Media, 30 Oct. 2025
The camera pans out to the hallway as visitors flee, while the gorilla’s roar echoes loudly in the background.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for roar
Cite this Entry
“Roar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roar. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
roar
1 of 2 verb
ˈrō(ə)r 
ˈrȯ(ə)r
1
: to utter a long full loud sound
the lion roared
2
: to laugh loudly
3
: to say with a roar
roarer
noun
ˈrōr-ər
ˈrȯr-
roar
2 of 2 noun1
a
: the deep loud cry of a wild animal (as a lion)
b
: a loud deep cry or shout
2
: a loud confused sound
the roar of the crowd
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