uproar

noun

up·​roar ˈəp-ˌrȯr How to pronounce uproar (audio)
: a state of commotion, excitement, or violent disturbance

Examples of uproar in a Sentence

There was a lot of public uproar over the proposed jail. There have been uproars in the past over similar proposals. The proposal caused an uproar. The town was in an uproar over the proposal to build a jail.
Recent Examples on the Web The proposal has been retooled since last year, when similar legislation passed in the Senate before dying in the House amid an uproar from residents in Miami Beach and several other coastal communities. Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024 One of these features, which has already caused uproar among customers, is the plan to try dynamic pricing in 2025 as reported by Nation’s Restaurant News. Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2024 Will the military exert an even heavier hand to silence the uproar and quash questions about its authority? Christina Goldbaum, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2024 The potential ouster of the general already has caused an uproar in Ukraine and delighted the Kremlin as the war approaches its second anniversary. Compiled Bydemocrat-Gazette Stafffrom Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 6 Feb. 2024 Barrera appeared to be aware of the uproar stirred by her posts. Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 2 Feb. 2024 The second hazard was the uproar and boycott of Bud Light after a controversial Anheuser-Busch marketing campaign focused on transgender social-media celebrity Dylan Mulvaney. The Arizona Republic, 24 Jan. 2024 Some are calling such uproar hypocritical and even feigned. Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2024 For now, most expect the generals to stay the course and back the government led by Mr. Sharif’s party, hoping the uproar subsides. Christina Goldbaum, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'uproar.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

by folk etymology from Dutch oproer, from Middle Dutch, from op up (akin to Old English ūp) + roer motion; akin to Old English hrēran to stir

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of uproar was in 1526

Dictionary Entries Near uproar

Cite this Entry

“Uproar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uproar. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

uproar

noun
up·​roar ˈəp-ˌrō(ə)r How to pronounce uproar (audio)
-ˌrȯ(ə)r
: a state of commotion, excitement, or violent disturbance
Etymology

from Dutch oproer "revolt, uprising," from op "up" and roer "motion"; the English spelling and meaning influenced by the similarity of the English roar to Dutch roer

Word Origin
The -roar part of the word uproar has no connection with the sounds made by some animals and crowds. The first use of uproar was as the translation of the Dutch word oproer, meaning "uprising, rebellion, revolt." Thus, the first meaning of uproar was the same as the Dutch meaning of oproer. Nowadays, this sense of uproar is no longer used. Because people thought that the roar of uproar referred to loud cries and sounds, they began to use the word to mean "a noisy disturbance or commotion." This is the sense of uproar that has survived.

More from Merriam-Webster on uproar

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