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
Police from at least four different agencies were investigating after the shooting and the commotion that followed.
—The Enquirer, 17 Mar. 2024
Meanwhile, flocks of herons and egrets arrive to exploit the commotion, luring other predators to follow their lunch to the banks.
—Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2024
The commotion alerted other neighbors in the building who came to their aid and helped to ultimately restrain the assailant, according to police and multiple news reports.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024
Election coming up With commotion over the arrest looming, early voting began March 4 for Danzinger or Burkett for mayor.
—Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2024
Two settings raised hairs Journaling Suggestions and Discoverable by Others are causing a commotion.
—Kim Komando, USA TODAY, 28 Mar. 2024
The commotion eventually died down, and Ms. Belafonte put her career aside to start a family in Manhattan.
—Ian Zack, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024
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
Police from at least four different agencies were investigating after the shooting and the commotion that followed.
—The Enquirer, 17 Mar. 2024
Meanwhile, flocks of herons and egrets arrive to exploit the commotion, luring other predators to follow their lunch to the banks.
—Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2024
The commotion alerted other neighbors in the building who came to their aid and helped to ultimately restrain the assailant, according to police and multiple news reports.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024
Election coming up With commotion over the arrest looming, early voting began March 4 for Danzinger or Burkett for mayor.
—Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2024
Two settings raised hairs Journaling Suggestions and Discoverable by Others are causing a commotion.
—Kim Komando, USA TODAY, 28 Mar. 2024
The commotion eventually died down, and Ms. Belafonte put her career aside to start a family in Manhattan.
—Ian Zack, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024
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 28 Apr. 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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