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
Ariel Sheinberg, Baltimore Sun, 26 May 2025
And that if American parents were told their children had to go to school on Saturdays — and for another hour each weekday — there would be riots in the streets.
—Jim Nowlan, Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2025
Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 May 2025
His subordinates have fired career prosecutors at the Justice Department who played a role in investigating Mr. Trump or his supporters who rioted at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
—Jonathan Swan, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for riot
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Noun
Three states, Colorado, Maine and Illinois, unsuccessfully attempted to remove Trump from the ballot based on his actions surrounding the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
—Ariel Sheinberg, Baltimore Sun, 26 May 2025
And that if American parents were told their children had to go to school on Saturdays — and for another hour each weekday — there would be riots in the streets.
—Jim Nowlan, Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2025
Verb
She was shot while attempting to enter the House Speaker's Lobby during the riot at the U.S. Capitol along with thousands of other Trump supporters who rioted at the Capitol to try to block Congress from certifying Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election.
—Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 May 2025
His subordinates have fired career prosecutors at the Justice Department who played a role in investigating Mr. Trump or his supporters who rioted at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
—Jonathan Swan, New York Times, 29 Apr. 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 3 Jun. 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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