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
Literary Hub, 14 Nov. 2025
Wells Fargo sees Caterpillar continuing to roar higher and emerging as an artificial intelligence play.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 14 Nov. 2025
Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 12 Nov. 2025
The other funnymen of the time—Milton Berle with his lewd suggestiveness, Jackie Gleason with his baleful roar—did the same shtick over and over.
—David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for roar
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Verb
Some, such as Ignat Trofimov and Ivan Kalugin, made these dangerous captures a family business; their dynasties would operate for decades, satisfying demand from the zoos and circuses of the world eager for roaring tigers to entertain paying guests.
—Literary Hub, 14 Nov. 2025
Wells Fargo sees Caterpillar continuing to roar higher and emerging as an artificial intelligence play.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 14 Nov. 2025
Noun
Hornets veteran Mason Plumlee entered for the final minutes of the fourth quarter to a roar from the crowd.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 12 Nov. 2025
The other funnymen of the time—Milton Berle with his lewd suggestiveness, Jackie Gleason with his baleful roar—did the same shtick over and over.
—David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 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 16 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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