roar

[ rawr, rohr ]
See synonyms for: roarroaredroaringroarer on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)
  1. to utter a loud, deep cry or howl, as in excitement, distress, or anger.

  2. to laugh loudly or boisterously: to roar at a joke.

  1. to make a loud sound or din, as thunder, cannon, waves, or wind.

  2. to function or move with a loud, deep sound, as a vehicle: The automobile roared away.

  3. to make a loud noise in breathing, as a horse.

verb (used with object)
  1. to utter or express in a roar: to roar denials.

  2. to bring, put, make, etc., by roaring: to roar oneself hoarse.

noun
  1. a loud, deep cry or howl, as of an animal or a person: the roar of a lion.

  2. a loud, confused, constant noise or sound; din; clamor: the roar of the surf; the roar of lively conversation from the crowded party.

  1. a loud outburst: a roar of laughter; a roar of approval from the audience.

Origin of roar

1
before 900; Middle English roren (v.), Old English rārian; cognate with Old High German rēren to bellow

synonym study For roar

1. See cry.

Other words for roar

Other words from roar

  • roarer, noun
  • outroar, verb (used with object)
  • un·der·roar·er, noun

Words Nearby roar

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use roar in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for roar

roar

/ (rɔː) /


verb(mainly intr)
  1. (of lions and other animals) to utter characteristic loud growling cries

  2. (also tr) (of people) to utter (something) with a loud deep cry, as in anger or triumph

  1. to laugh in a loud hearty unrestrained manner

  2. (of horses) to breathe with laboured rasping sounds: See roaring (def. 6)

  3. (of the wind, waves, etc) to blow or break loudly and violently, as during a storm

  4. (of a fire) to burn fiercely with a roaring sound

  5. (of a machine, gun, etc) to operate or move with a loud harsh noise

  6. (tr) to bring (oneself) into a certain condition by roaring: to roar oneself hoarse

noun
  1. a loud deep cry, uttered by a person or crowd, esp in anger or triumph

  2. a prolonged loud cry of certain animals, esp lions

  1. any similar noise made by a fire, the wind, waves, artillery, an engine, etc

  2. a loud unrestrained burst of laughter

Origin of roar

1
Old English rārian; related to Old High German rērēn, Middle Dutch reren

Derived forms of roar

  • roarer, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012