roar

[rawr, rohr]

verb (used without object)

1. to utter a loud, deep cry or howl, as in excitement, distress, or anger.

   Synonyms: yell, bawl

2. to laugh loudly or boisterously.

   to roar at a joke.

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

   Synonyms: peal, thunder, boom, resound

4. to function or move with a loud, deep sound, as a vehicle.

   The automobile roared away.

5. 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.

3. a loud outburst.

   a roar of laughter; a roar of approval from the audience.

roar

/ rɔː /

verb

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

3. to laugh in a loud hearty unrestrained manner

4. (of horses) to breathe with laboured rasping sounds See roaring

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

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

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

8. (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

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

4. a loud unrestrained burst of laughter

Other Word Forms

• roarer noun
• outroar verb (used with object)
• underroarer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of roar¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of roar¹

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

Synonym Study

See cry.

Example Sentences

The 27-year-old furiously fought off Pegula's attempts to break back and let out a huge roar after wrapping up the victory on her third match point.

From BBC

“The sound that comes from the flame is a constant roar that we can hear throughout our property both day and night,” the neighbors wrote in their objection.

From Salon

At the top of the hike, participants laid out yoga mats as the roar of the crowd at Dodger Stadium echoed in the background.

From Los Angeles Times

While walking the noisy, packed streets of the central city, with the engines of London Transport double-decker buses roaring, horns tooting and newspaper sellers shouting the headlines of the latest European crisis, he muses:

From Salon

At 17-5 up, the Scots were in decent shape but Fiji came roaring out the traps after the break.

From BBC

Related Words

• barrage 
• blast 
• boom 
• clamor 
• cry 
• drum 
• explosion 
• outcry 
• rumble 
• shout 
• thunder 
• uproar