roost

noun

\ ˈrüst

Definition of roost

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : a support on which birds rest

b : a place where winged animals and especially birds customarily roost

2 : a group of birds roosting together

roost

verb

roosted; roosting; roosts

Definition of roost (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : to settle down for rest or sleep : perch

2 : to settle oneself as if on a roost

transitive verb

: to supply a roost for or put to roost

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about roost

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Synonyms & Antonyms for roost

Synonyms: Verb

alight, land, light, perch, settle, touch down

Antonyms: Verb

blast off, take off

Examples of roost in a Sentence

Verb

Pigeons roost on the building's ledge. pigeons flying home to roost on the roof

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Rockwell came of age during the First World War, when atrocity propaganda ruled the war-marketing roost. — Brian T. Allen, National Review, "A Closer Look at Rockwell’s Four Freedoms," 22 June 2019 Overall, Hotstar and MXPlayer were ruling the roost with the highest share of OTT audiences using their platforms. — Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz India, "One OTT platform is simply not enough for video-hungry Indians," 17 June 2019 While birds’ ancestors, the dinos, ruled the planetary roost, our mammalian kin scurried around in the dark, fearfully nocturnal and gradually losing color discrimination. — Quanta Magazine, "A Bird’s-Eye View of Nature’s Hidden Order," 12 July 2016 In more open spaces, flocks will crowd together for warmth and roost in groups overnight. — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, "Here's How Birds Stay Warm in the Winter, In Case You Were Wondering," 1 Feb. 2019 Why were Venezuela’s gangs, long known to rule the roost in the country’s prisons, allowed to host a celebration within a police station? — Ana Vanessa Herrero And Nicholas Casey, New York Times, "Venezuela, Accustomed to Tragedy, Is Shaken Again by Horrific Jail Fire," 29 Mar. 2018 As a final insult, a couple of winged missiles went AWOL, taking up roost under a general's car before exploding. — Lucy Cooke, ajc, "US military is interested in bats as possible defenders against bioweapons," 3 July 2018 As bats have yet to invent teeny tiny breast pumps, the mother's best option is to share her milk supply with the offspring of her roost mates. — Steve Mirsky, Scientific American, "A New Book Looks at What Life Is Like for Moms across the Animal Kingdom," 1 May 2018 As a final insult, a couple of winged missiles went AWOL, taking up roost under a general’s car before exploding. — Lucy Cooke, Washington Post, "The batty, explosive history of bats in the military — and why this new idea just might work," 2 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Smaller birds such as rosy-faced lovebirds and familiar chats may room alongside them in this avian mansion, while vultures or eagles may roost on the roof. — Liz Langley, National Geographic, "These animals make homes for other species," 25 June 2019 When the birds go find another tree to roost in, the process is repeated until the flock finds a suitable home outside of town. — John Spina, The Denver Post, "Longmont residents sick of nasty, vomiting turkey vultures," 21 June 2019 Two other bird geoglyphs, one of which had been previously identified as a guano bird (one of several species of seabirds that roost in large numbers on Peru's coastal islands), turned out to likely be pelicans. — Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, "New study takes a bird’s-eye view of the Nasca Lines," 20 June 2019 The Euro-elites lost touch with their nationals, and their chickens came home to roost. — Sahil Handa, National Review, "Reclaiming Britishness from the Brexit Debacle," 10 June 2019 Power has often roosted here, poised to prey upon nearby territories. — James Bridle, The Atlantic, "The Rise of Virtual Citizenship," 21 Feb. 2018 By 1630, the house was a tenant farm; cows lived in what is now the grand gallery, and chickens roosted in the upper floors. — Melissa Biggs Bradley, House Beautiful, "William Christie on Reviving a 16th-Century French Estate," 1 Sep. 2013 When the temperature drops at night, Harry roosts under Dewey’s deck. — Vinny Vella, Philly.com, "In Malvern, 'Harry the Peacock' has found a home," 4 June 2018 The peacocks likely went to roost for the night, and the search was halted until daybreak Thursday. — Fox News, "1 of 4 peacocks that roamed from Philadelphia Zoo found dead," 1 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'roost.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.