Synonyms

rumpus

American

[ruhm-puhs] / ˈrʌm pəs /

noun

plural

rumpuses

a noisy or violent disturbance; commotion; uproar.

There was a terrible rumpus going on upstairs.
a heated controversy.

a rumpus over the school-bond issue.

rumpus British

/ ˈrʌmpəs /

noun

a noisy, confused, or disruptive commotion

"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

Etymology

Origin of rumpus

First recorded in 1755–65; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The court heard that she told police: "Kate told me he tried to get up the night before, and she tried to stop him. Ian had said 'leave me alone or I'll cause a rumpus'."

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2024

As the characters in a Coen Brothers movie might say: What’s the rumpus?

From Slate • Jul. 21, 2023

Sirota donated the space — that garage/rehearsal/studio/hangout spot, affectionately known as “the rumpus room,” is hers.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 11, 2023

Mexico, a spicy rumpus that will play out Friday night in the most consequential forum: the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

From Washington Post • Nov. 12, 2021

Billy couldn’t carry it very far very easily, which was why he was writing in the rumpus room instead of somewhere else.

From "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023