commotion
noun
com·mo·tion
kə-ˈmō-shən 
1
: a condition of civil unrest or insurrection
The commotion was finally brought to an end and peace was restored.
2
: steady or recurrent motion
the commotion of the surf
3
: mental excitement or confusion
… startled … into no ordinary state of commotion.—
Arnold Bennett
Arnold BennettSynonyms
- ado
- alarums and excursions
- ballyhoo
- blather
- bluster
- bobbery
- bother
- bustle
- clatter
- clutter [chiefly dialect]
- coil
- corroboree [Australian]
- disturbance
- do [chiefly dialect]
- foofaraw
- fun
- furor
- furore
- fuss
- helter-skelter
- hoo-ha
- hoo-hah
- hoopla
- hubble-bubble
- hubbub
- hullabaloo
- hurly
- hurly-burly
- hurricane
- hurry
- hurry-scurry
- hurry-skurry
- kerfuffle [chiefly British]
- moil
- pandemonium
- pother
- row
- ruckus
- ruction
- rumpus
- shindy
- splore [Scottish]
- squall
- stew
- stir
- storm
- to-do
- tumult
- turmoil
- uproar
- welter
- whirl
- williwaw
- zoo
Examples of commotion in a Sentence
There was a sudden commotion when the actress entered the restaurant.
the commotion created when the nation's top rock band arrived in town
Recent Examples on the Web
Kaden’s cousin, Angelica Longino, recalled hearing a commotion outside her apartment before the crash.
—Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2024
The commotion around the outfit that ensued, says its designer, was happenstance (sort of).
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 13 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for commotion 
Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2024
The commotion around the outfit that ensued, says its designer, was happenstance (sort of).
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 13 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for commotion
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'commotion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near commotion
Cite this Entry
“Commotion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commotion. Accessed 4 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
commotion
noun
com·mo·tion
kə-ˈmō-shən
1
: irregular or violent motion
2
: noisy excitement and confusion : tumult
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