1
a
: a violent public disorder
specifically
: a tumultuous disturbance of the public peace by three or more persons assembled together and acting with a common intent
b
: public violence, tumult, or disorder
2
: a random or disorderly profusion
the woods were a riot of color
3
: one that is wildly amusing
the new comedy is a riot
4
archaic
a
: profligate behavior : debauchery
b
: unrestrained revelry
c
: noise, uproar, or disturbance made by revelers
rioted; rioting; riots
rioter
noun
Examples of riot in a Sentence
Noun
The news about the election caused a riot in the city.
A lot of property was damaged in the recent riots.
The woods are a riot of color in the autumn.
The movie was an absolute riot.
Verb
Students rioted after their team lost the football game.
Recent Examples on the Web
Andy Rose, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025
Patel, in interviews, declined to support that characterization, but admitted the decision to insert agents after the riot had been declared by police broke FBI standards.
—Emma Marsden, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Brad Schmitt, Nashville Tennessean, 23 Sep. 2025
Cox also called for restraint in reaction to Kirk’s assassination, noting that residents of Utah did not riot or loot or engage in violence, and instead held vigils and said prayers.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for riot
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Noun
The Portland Police Bureau would declare a riot and order protesters to disperse, eventually responding physically against protesters.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025
Patel, in interviews, declined to support that characterization, but admitted the decision to insert agents after the riot had been declared by police broke FBI standards.
—Emma Marsden, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
White supremacists rioted, threatened the students and vandalized the school in 1957 after Black students started attending Clinton High School, about 30 minutes outside Knoxville.
—Brad Schmitt, Nashville Tennessean, 23 Sep. 2025
Cox also called for restraint in reaction to Kirk’s assassination, noting that residents of Utah did not riot or loot or engage in violence, and instead held vigils and said prayers.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for riot
Cite this Entry
“Riot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/riot. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
riot
1 of 2 noun
ri·ot
ˈrī-ət 
1
: public violence, disturbance, or disorder
2
: a varied display of color
3
: something or someone very funny
riot
2 of 2 verb
: to create or take part in a riot
rioter
noun
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