roared; roaring; roars
Synonyms of roarnext

intransitive verb

1
a
: to make the loud sound of a wild animal
b
: to make a long, loud sound
sirens roaring
The engine roared back to life. [=made the loud sound of an engine and began running well]
sometimes used figuratively
Her career suddenly roared back to life.
c
: to sing or shout with full force
The fans roared when their team scored.
2
a
: to make or emit a loud confused sound (such as background reverberation or rumbling)
b
: to laugh loudly
3
a
: to be boisterous or disorderly
b
: to proceed or rush with great noise or commotion
The truck roared away/off.
sometimes used figuratively
The team came roaring back in the last quarter to win the game.
4
: to make a loud noise during inhalation (such as that of a horse affected with roaring)

transitive verb

1
: to utter or proclaim with a roar
"Watch out!" he roared.
often used with out
The sergeant roared out orders.
2
: to cause to roar
roaring their engines

roar

2 of 2

noun

1
: the deep cry of a wild animal (such as a lion)
2
: a loud deep cry (as of pain or anger)
3
: a loud continuous confused sound
the roar of the crowd
4
: a boisterous outcry

Examples of roar in a Sentence

Verb We heard a lion roar in the distance. The joke got the crowd roaring. The crowd roared its approval. She roared at him for being late. Noun the roar of the airplane engines the roar of the river
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
The Chicago Air and Water Show roars over the city this weekend. Jennifer Day, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 The elderly woman who was killed by a blast as severe summer storms roared through the Midwest lived in a house that was filled with cuckoo clocks that would go off every hour, on the hour, her family said. Selina Guevara, NBC news, 12 Aug. 2026
Noun
As Rich Robinson reached adolescence, the Black Crowes guitarist remembers one song above all others cutting through the roar of rock and roll in Atlanta in the early ’80s. Peter Larsen, Daily News, 11 Aug. 2026 The roar of her engine died away, the white V around her prow disappeared, her nose fell. James D. Oxley, Outdoor Life, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for roar

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English roren, from Old English rārian; akin to Old High German rērēn to bleat

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of roar was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Roar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roar. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

Kids Definition

roar

1 of 2 verb
1
: to utter a long full loud sound
the lion roared
2
: to laugh loudly
3
: to say with a roar
roarer
ˈrōr-ər
ˈrȯr-
noun

roar

2 of 2 noun
1
a
: the deep loud cry of a wild animal (as a lion)
b
: a loud deep cry or shout
2
: a loud confused sound
the roar of the crowd

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