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 Bennett4
a
: an agitated disturbance : to-do
the commotion caused by the president's visit
b
: noisy confusion : agitation
The commotion backstage had brought the play to a stop.
Synonyms
- 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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Anton's mother, Jennell, heard the commotion and stepped outside. NBC News, 4 Sep. 2022 Within 15 minutes of lighting his friend’s funeral pyre, Mr. Zinjade heard a commotion where the man’s wife was standing. Kanika Gupta, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Aug. 2022 Chiklak heard a commotion on Tuesday night as bears went inside a nearby tent, drawn by the scent of food. Emily Goodykoontz, Anchorage Daily News, 30 June 2022 From his unit below, Warburton — who is unsure why a year went by before the unit was cleared — heard the commotion. Sydney Page, Washington Post, 27 June 2022 Thanks to the impressive drumming and lively fans, Hawkins heard the commotion and made a trip down to meet the young drummer. Sara Smart, CNN, 26 Mar. 2022 The neighbor heard the commotion and ran to the backyard, where the dog was shot, Lauderhill police Lt. Michael Santiago told news outlets. orlandosentinel.com, 28 Feb. 2022 Teachers began poking their heads out to see what the commotion was about, like Brooklyn natives looking out from their apartment fire escapes, Townes chuckled. Luca Evans, Los Angeles Times, 22 Aug. 2022 The commotion of the bears discovering their packs woke mother and daughter, but in the dark night neither of them could see the animals. Noah Davis, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Aug. 2022 See More
NBC News, 4 Sep. 2022 Within 15 minutes of lighting his friend’s funeral pyre, Mr. Zinjade heard a commotion where the man’s wife was standing. Kanika Gupta, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Aug. 2022 Chiklak heard a commotion on Tuesday night as bears went inside a nearby tent, drawn by the scent of food. Emily Goodykoontz, Anchorage Daily News, 30 June 2022 From his unit below, Warburton — who is unsure why a year went by before the unit was cleared — heard the commotion. Sydney Page, Washington Post, 27 June 2022 Thanks to the impressive drumming and lively fans, Hawkins heard the commotion and made a trip down to meet the young drummer. Sara Smart, CNN, 26 Mar. 2022 The neighbor heard the commotion and ran to the backyard, where the dog was shot, Lauderhill police Lt. Michael Santiago told news outlets. orlandosentinel.com, 28 Feb. 2022 Teachers began poking their heads out to see what the commotion was about, like Brooklyn natives looking out from their apartment fire escapes, Townes chuckled. Luca Evans, Los Angeles Times, 22 Aug. 2022 The commotion of the bears discovering their packs woke mother and daughter, but in the dark night neither of them could see the animals. Noah Davis, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French commocion, from Latin commotion-, commotio, from commovēre — see commove
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
commotion
noun
com·mo·tion kə-ˈmō-shən
: noisy excitement and confusion : turmoil
commotion
noun
as in disturbance
a state of noisy, confused activity the commotion created when the nation's top rock band arrived in town Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- disturbance
- fuss
- turmoil
- stir
- hurry
- noise
- clatter
- storm
- ruckus
- hubbub
- fun
- clutter
- hoopla
- racket
- bustle
- tumult
- hullabaloo
- uproar
- pandemonium
- hurricane
- roar
- furore
- rumpus
- kerfuffle
- furor
- row
- flurry
- ado
- zoo
- bother
- pother
- hoo-hah
- squall
- upheaval
- shindy
- hurly
- ballyhoo
- hoo-ha
- hurly-burly
- foofaraw
- ruction
- welter
- coil
- outcry
- blather
- unrest
- whirl
- splore
- cacophony
- clamor
- bluster
- moil
- corroboree
- hurry-scurry
- howl
- helter-skelter
- stew
- din
- bobbery
- to-do
- disorder
- do
- alarums and excursions
- brawl
- hurry-skurry
- williwaw
- eruption
- hubble-bubble
- scuffle
- outburst
- fray
- outbreak
- flutter
- fracas
- tizzy
- melee
- fever
- mêlée
- fret
- hassle
- hue and cry
- flare-up
- dither
- lather
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rest
- hush
- quiet
- calm
- peace
- tranquility
- stillness
- tranquillity
- quietude
- order
- orderliness