riot
/ˈɹaɪ.ət/noun, verb
riot is spelled R-I-O-T: 4 letters and 2 syllables. It appears 12 times per million words in written English, the 6,138th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, riot means “A tumultuous disturbance of the public peace by a large group of people, often involving violence or damage to property” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of riot is riots.
How many letters and syllables are in riot?
| Letters | 4: R-I-O-T |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 12 times per million words; the 6,138th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Same letters |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is riot?
Riot appears 12 times per million words in written English, the 6,138th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce riot?
- /ˈɹaɪ.ət/
- /ˈɹaɪ.ɪt/
Riot has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-AcpoKrane-riot.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with riot?
No other word on PlainSpell ends in the same sounds as riot.
Spelled with the same letters in another order: trio, tori, roti, rito.
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of riot
- riots plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- rioting participle, present
- rioted participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does riot mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A tumultuous disturbance of the public peace by a large group of people, often involving violence or damage to property.
The protests began peacefully but turned into riots after several days.
- 2
A wide and unconstrained variety.
In summer this flower garden is a riot of colour.
- 3
colloquialA humorous or entertaining event or person.
- 4
Wanton or unrestrained behavior or emotion.
- 5
obsoleteExcessive and expensive feasting; wild and loose festivity; revelry.
verb
- 1
To create or take part in a riot; to raise an uproar or sedition.
The nuclear protesters rioted outside the military base.
- 2
obsoleteTo act in an unrestrained or wanton manner; to indulge in excess of feasting, luxury, etc.
- 3
To cause to riot; to throw into a tumult.
- 4
To annoy.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Riot in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| German | Aufruhr , Tumult, Krawall, Randale |
| Portuguese | algazarra , tumulto, revolta, turbulência, motim , tumultuar |
| French | émeute |
| Spanish | alboroto, tumulto, disturbios, algarada, motín, asonada |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does riot come from?
From Middle English riot (“debauched living, dissipation”), from Old French riote (“debate”), from rioter (“to quarrel”), perhaps related to riboter or from Latin rugio (“to roar”). Compare French riotte and Occitan riòta.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).