Definitions
01total confusion
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. a situation where everything is happening at once and there is no order.
n. a state of utter confusion or disorder; a total lack of organization or predictability.
日本語:混沌※
Español:caos
“The station was in total chaos after all the trains were cancelled.”
“The sudden withdrawal of funding threw the entire research department into a state of chaos, leaving dozens of projects unfinished.”
02complex systems
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Science Technical
n. a type of math or science where very small changes can lead to huge, unpredictable results.
n. the property of a complex system where small variations in initial conditions result in massive differences in later states.
日本語:カオス※
“Weather is a great example of chaos because a tiny change in wind can change a whole storm.”
“In mathematics, chaos describes systems that appear random but are actually governed by sensitive, non-linear laws.”
Usage
Often used in the phrase 'chaos theory'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03mythology
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Religion Literary · Academic
n. the empty space or confusion that existed before the world was created in ancient stories.
n. the primordial void or state of matter preceding the creation of the universe in various cosmogonies.
日本語:カオス※
“In ancient Greek myths, the universe began as a dark chaos.”
“The poet describes the transition from primordial chaos to the structured harmony of the heavens.”
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “chaos” in context.
Verb
01. descend into chaos
“The peaceful protest quickly descended into chaos after the police arrived.”
verb + prep + noun
02. restore order from chaos
“The new manager worked tirelessly to restore order from the chaos left by his predecessor.”
verb + noun + prep
03. wreak chaos
“The sudden snowstorm wreaked chaos on the city's transport network.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. sheer chaos
“It was sheer chaos at the airport when all the flights were cancelled simultaneously.”
adj + noun
05. unmitigated chaos
“The festival turned into unmitigated chaos due to a lack of proper security.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. scene of chaos
“Emergency services arrived at a scene of chaos following the multi-car collision.”
noun + of + noun
07. theory of chaos
“In physics, the theory of chaos explains how small changes in initial conditions can lead to vast differences.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
08. in chaos
“The country's economy was in chaos following the sudden collapse of the national bank.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“Inside we're hurting but it doesn't mean we all have to shout and scream and come out and create some chaos.” “If continuity is the key word in Coventry’s fight for survival then chaos seems to be Hull’s.” Etymology
Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek χάος (kháos, “vast chasm, void”). Doublet of gas, which was borrowed through Dutch. In Early Modern English, used in the sense of the original Greek word. In the meaning "primordial matter" from the 16th century. Figurative usage in the sense "confusion, disorder" from the 17th century. The technical sense in mathematics and science dates from the 1960s.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/chaos
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0