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 of roost

Verb

• perch
• land

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

For three consecutive evenings, just before dark, this bird zipped to the dining table, gobbled down a quick meal, then hurried back to its roost. — Tom Huggler, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026

Kimmel recently signed a surprising one-year deal with Disney that will keep him on his after-hours roost though 2027. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 3 Aug. 2026

Verb

Turkeys, which can fly but not well or far, often roost in trees that are close to the lines. — Kathe Tanner, Sacbee.com, 17 Aug. 2026

In the absence of snow, grouse will roost in conifers or thick aspens. — Tom Huggler, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026

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

Rhymes for roost

• boost
• loosed
• sluiced
• adduced
• conduced
• deduced
• induced
• produced
• reduced
• seduced
• traduced
• transduced

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