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riot Definition

riot (rī′ət)

noun

  1. wild or violent disorder, confusion, or disturbance; tumult; uproar
  2. a violent public disturbance of the peace, by a number of persons (specified, in law, usually as three or more) assembled together
  3. an unrestrained outburst, as of laughter
  4. a brilliant, vivid display a riot of color
  5. Now Rare
    1. wild, loose living; debauchery
    2. unrestrained revelry
    3. a wild, noisy feast or revel
  6. ☆ Informal an extremely amusing person, thing, or event

Etymology: ME < OFr riote < rihoter, to make a disturbance

intransitive verb

  1. to take part in a tumult or disturbance of the peace
  2. Now Rare
    1. to live in a wild, loose manner
    2. to engage in unrestrained revelry
    3. to indulge without restraint; revel (in something)

Etymology: ME rioten < OFr rihoter

transitive verb

Now Rare to waste (money, time, etc.) in disorderly or profligate living

riot Related Forms

ri′·oter noun

riot Idioms

run riot

Etymology: orig. of dogs barking on the wrong scent

  1. to run wild; act without restraint, control, or discipline
  2. to grow in luxuriance or profusion

riot Synonyms

riot

n.

confusion, uproar, tumult, public disturbance; see disorder 2, disturbance 2, protest.

run riot

run wild, run amok, revolt, riot; see rebel 1.

riot Synonyms

riot

v.

revolt, stir up trouble, fight in the streets; see rebel 1.

riot Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • quell: The 14th Light Dragoons had been used to quell riots here before, were nicknamed the Bloody Blues and hated.
  • incite: British and American spies are apparently on the ground inciting riot.
  • provoke: Having provoked riots in Budapest & Berlin Antheil had exactly the right cachet for them.
  • spark: Bolivia in chaos after police join strikers: Government plans for a tax rise spark bloody riots.
  • ensue: The last time Jordan raised gasoline prices six people died in the ensuing riots.
  • predict: But what happens if the predicted riots and civil disorder don't happen?

Adjective modifier

  • strangeways: The current Lord Chief Justice re-kindled hope following his masterly analysis of the Strangeways riot in 1990.
  • Luddite: The Blue Lion Ready Carr Became the Adult School - believed to have quartered soldiers in the upper rooms during the Luddite riots.
  • Chartist: Jailed for two years for his part in the Chartist riots in Manchester in 1848.
  • full-scale: In Tonbridge in 1880 there was a full-scale riot during which eggs, stones and brickbats were thrown at the police.
  • sectarian: The same period saw the first outbreaks of sectarian riots, which have recurred regularly since.

Modifies a noun

  • grrrl: These 3 tracks of lo-fi riot grrrl punk rock resemble a grungier version of Helen Love, and mighty fine they are too.
  • grrl: Then I've Got My Own Problems To Fix manages to make riot grrl sound ethereal.
  • shield: They were being charged by lines with riot shields.
  • gear: Nine officers in riot gear burst into his house.
  • police: On March 6th, 2006, South Korean military riot police began direct attacks on the villages.
  • squad: That brings the total number of members of the Rome riot squad under investigation to 77, of all ranks.

Noun used with modifier

  • imagination: Let your imagination run riot - the images alone should inspire you.
  • race: There was a major race riot in West London, no white people involved.
  • poll: The ID card lunacy alone should have the free citizens of Britain pouring into the streets à la poll tax riots.