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

Can’t a girl just wear some lace and work with pop’s biggest producer without causing a ruckus? —Justin Curto, Vulture, 17 June 2024

Then came a group of teenage girls running out of a van for selfies, followed by bikers, who stopped to see what all the ruckus was about. —Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024

The dot-com bubble bursting and the financial adjustment of the early- and mid-2000s caused quite a ruckus as well. —Allen Buchanan, Orange County Register, 26 Oct. 2024

Last year, despite all the ruckus, the number dipped to a record low of 10 percent. —Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 25 Aug. 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