ruckus

noun

ruck·​us

ˈrə-kəs,

 also  ˈrü-,

or

ˈru̇- 

plural ruckuses

1

: a noisy fight or disturbance : row, commotion

raise/cause/create a ruckus

heard a ruckus down the street

He went outside to see what all the ruckus was about.

The dogs … typically would set off quite a ruckus whenever they heard something in the woods …

—Larry Livermore

2

: a state or situation in which many people are angry or upset : fuss, uproar

… IHOP recently caused a social media ruckus after announcing it would change its name …

—Lauren Delgado

… the county's GOP is embroiled in a lively legal ruckus over an attempt to seize control of the party.

—Charles Burress

Synonyms

• affray [chiefly British]
• brawl
• broil
• donnybrook
• fracas
• fray
• free-for-all
• melee
• mêlée
• rough-and-tumble
• row
• ruction

Examples of ruckus in a Sentence

the ruckus left one person with a sprained wrist

quit creating such a ruckus—I'm trying to sleep!

Recent Examples on the Web

The escape became a ruckus, involving about 20 people, including six Sebastopol police officers, a farmer, three businessmen and a gaggle of children who all got into the porker pursuit. —Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2024

After some ruckus, he was coached back into the locker room and by that time there were plenty of towels. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 13 May 2024

Our parents didn’t shrink from any of that ruckus, and probably couldn’t have, anyway, because so much was going on and seemed relevant. —Ellen Murphy, Kansas City Star, 5 June 2024

Escape the ruckus at a beach club, or lido, such as Pettolecchia Il Lido, a luxury spot between Bari and Brindisi. —Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 3 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

probably blend of ruction and rumpus

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ruckus

• raise a ruckus

Kids Definition

ruckus

noun

ruck·​us ˈrək-əs 

ˈrük-,

ˈru̇k-

: row entry 4