commotion

/kəˈmoʊʃən/

/kəˈmʌʊʃɪn/

Other forms: commotions

A commotion is a noisy disturbance. If you're trying to quietly concentrate on reading this, you wouldn't want the person next to you to cause a commotion, or it would distract you.

Commotion, which comes from the Middle French word commocion, means "violent motion, agitation." It can be a disorderly outburst or disruption, like someone yelling in the street at night, or five people arguing about someone talking on a cellphone while a play is being performed in front of them. Commotion can also describe out-of-control movement, like people pushing and shoving to get to the front row of a concert.

Definitions of commotion

1. noun

   a disorderly outburst or tumult
   synonyms: disruption, disturbance, flutter, hoo-ha, hoo-hah, hurly burly, kerfuffle, to-do

   types:

   convulsion, turmoil, upheaval

   a violent disturbance

   earthquake

   a disturbance that is extremely disruptive

   incident

   a public disturbance

   splash, stir

   a prominent or sensational but short-lived news event

   maelstrom, storm, tempest

   a violent commotion or disturbance

   storm center, storm centre

   a center of trouble or disturbance

   garboil, tumult, tumultuousness, uproar, zoo

   a state of commotion and noise and confusion

   combustion

   a state of violent disturbance and excitement

   type of:

   disorder

   a disturbance of the peace or of public order
2. noun

   the act of making a noisy disturbance
   synonyms: din, ruckus, ruction, rumpus, tumult

   types:

   ado, bustle, flurry, fuss, hustle, hustle and bustle, stir

   a rapid active commotion

   type of:

   disturbance

   the act of disturbing something or someone; setting something in motion
3. noun

   confused movement
   “a commotion of people fought for the exits”

   synonyms: whirl, whirlwind

   type of:

   motion, movement

   a natural event that involves a change in the position or location of something