roost

1 of 2

noun

ˈrüst 

1

a

: 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

2 of 2

verb

roosted; roosting; roosts

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

Verb

• alight
• land
• light
• perch
• settle
• touch down

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

Florida's largest roosts may attract as many as 4,000 birds. —Ramon Padilla, USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2024

Her transmitter shows Suwannee 22 spent time this summer in Georgia and Alabama before returning to her home roost. —William Ramsey, USA TODAY, 16 Aug. 2024

Verb

When used correctly, these decoys can scare away pesky birds who are trying to roost on your porch. —Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2024

Parakeets roost in large numbers, and aggressively defend their territory: they've been known to kill bats in tree hollows; and, in Seville, are displacing a rare bat species. —The Week Uk, theweek, 11 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hrōst; akin to Old Saxon hrōst attic

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing roost

• come home to roost
• rule the roost
• the/his chickens are (finally) coming home to roost

Kids Definition

roost

1 of 2 noun

ˈrüst 

1

: a support on which birds rest

2

: a place where birds often roost

roost

2 of 2 verb

: to settle down for rest or sleep : perch