commotion

noun

com·​mo·​tion kə-ˈmō-shən 

1

: a condition of civil unrest or insurrection

The commotion was finally brought to an end and peace was restored.

2

: steady or recurrent motion

the commotion of the surf

3

: mental excitement or confusion

… startled … into no ordinary state of commotion.

—Arnold Bennett

4

a

: an agitated disturbance : to-do

the commotion caused by the president's visit

b

: noisy confusion : agitation

The commotion backstage had brought the play to a stop.

Synonyms

• ado
• alarums and excursions
• ballyhoo
• blather
• bluster
• bobbery
• bother
• bustle
• clatter
• clutter [chiefly dialect]
• coil
• corroboree [Australian]
• disturbance
• do [chiefly dialect]
• foofaraw
• fun
• furor
• furore
• fuss
• helter-skelter
• hoo-ha
• hoo-hah
• hoopla
• hubble-bubble
• hubbub
• hullabaloo
• hurly
• hurly-burly
• hurricane
• hurry
• hurry-scurry
• hurry-skurry
• kerfuffle [chiefly British]
• moil
• pandemonium
• pother
• row
• ruckus
• ruction
• rumpus
• shindy
• splore [Scottish]
• squall
• stew
• stir
• storm
• to-do
• tumult
• turmoil
• uproar
• welter
• whirl
• williwaw
• zoo

Examples of commotion in a Sentence

There was a sudden commotion when the actress entered the restaurant.

the commotion created when the nation's top rock band arrived in town

Recent Examples on the Web

Meanwhile, flocks of herons and egrets arrive to exploit the commotion, luring other predators to follow their lunch to the banks. —Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2024

The commotion alerted other neighbors in the building who came to their aid and helped to ultimately restrain the assailant, according to police and multiple news reports. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024

Election coming up With commotion over the arrest looming, early voting began March 4 for Danzinger or Burkett for mayor. —Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2024

Two settings raised hairs Journaling Suggestions and Discoverable by Others are causing a commotion. —Kim Komando, USA TODAY, 28 Mar. 2024

The commotion eventually died down, and Ms. Belafonte put her career aside to start a family in Manhattan. —Ian Zack, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024

Second, the animals were reacting to the crowd of zoo goers’ excitement and commotion while the eclipse was happening. —Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024

Amid the commotion, Kimmel was sitting in the audience next to Damon preparing to close out the show. —Alex Sundby, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2024

According to court documents, one neighbor heard the commotion and saw the victim covered in blood. —Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French commocion, from Latin commotion-, commotio, from commovēre — see commove

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

commotion

noun

com·​mo·​tion kə-ˈmō-shən 

1

: irregular or violent motion

2

: noisy excitement and confusion : tumult