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
Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2025
The Justice Department and Capitol administrators previously estimated that the costs of cleanup and repairs following the January 6 riots totals nearly $3 million.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025
Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
Trump also allegedly took little action to stop his supporters from rioting Jan. 6, with Smith alleging Trump watched the attack on the Capitol building play out on TV from the White House dining room while drinking Diet Coke.
—Alison Durkee, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for riot
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Noun
Full coverage: 30 years since the 1992 L.A. riots
April 30, 2022
Ice Cube was a member of the groundbreaking Compton rap group N.W.A. along with Dr. Dre, DJ Yella, MC Ren and and founder Eazy-E.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2025
The Justice Department and Capitol administrators previously estimated that the costs of cleanup and repairs following the January 6 riots totals nearly $3 million.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
The proposal came at a time when the concert industry was still shaking off images from the ‘60s and ‘70s of naked, stoned, sometimes rioting audiences taking over small towns for weekend-long music festivals.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
Trump also allegedly took little action to stop his supporters from rioting Jan. 6, with Smith alleging Trump watched the attack on the Capitol building play out on TV from the White House dining room while drinking Diet Coke.
—Alison Durkee, Forbes, 13 Jan. 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 1 Apr. 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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