roar

1 of 2

verb

roared; roaring; roars

intransitive verb

1
a
: to utter or emit a full loud prolonged sound
b
: to sing or shout with full force
2
a
: to make or emit a loud confused sound (such as background reverberation or rumbling)
b
: to laugh loudly
3
a
: to be boisterous or disorderly
b
: to proceed or rush with great noise or commotion
4
: to make a loud noise during inhalation (such as that of a horse affected with roaring)

transitive verb

1
: to utter or proclaim with a roar
2
: to cause to roar

roar

2 of 2

noun

1
: the deep cry of a wild animal (such as a lion)
2
: a loud deep cry (as of pain or anger)
3
: a loud continuous confused sound
the roar of the crowd
4
: a boisterous outcry

Examples of roar in a Sentence

Verb We heard a lion roar in the distance. The joke got the crowd roaring. The crowd roared its approval. She roared at him for being late. Noun the roar of the airplane engines the roar of the river
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
The souvenir stalls outside the stadium which do a roaring trade on matchdays are also feeling the squeeze from the lack of games — and the bad weather that accompanied the ones that were played recently against Chelsea and Sunderland. Andy Mitten, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025 After Melissa roars by Jamaica, Cuba is likely to be the next country in the storm’s path. Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
Anchored by Syracuse University, the city hums with youthful spirit, from buzzy Marshall Street to the roar of the JMA Wireless Dome, where Orange basketball games regularly draw some of the largest crowds in college hoops. Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2025 The only noise was the roar of the crowd when Cole Sullivan and Jimmy Rolder intercepted passes on back-to-back drives, or when Bryce Underwood rolled out and found a wide-open Zack Marshall in the end zone. Austin Meek, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for roar

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English roren, from Old English rārian; akin to Old High German rērēn to bleat

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of roar was before the 12th century

Cite this Entry

“Roar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roar. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

roar

1 of 2 verb
ˈrō(ə)r How to pronounce roar (audio)
ˈrȯ(ə)r
1
: to utter a long full loud sound
the lion roared
2
: to laugh loudly
3
: to say with a roar
roarer
ˈrōr-ər
ˈrȯr-
noun

roar

2 of 2 noun
1
a
: the deep loud cry of a wild animal (as a lion)
b
: a loud deep cry or shout
2
: a loud confused sound
the roar of the crowd

More from Merriam-Webster on roar

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