Word
commotion
Phoneticscom·mo·tion, stress on the second syllable
US/kəˈmoʊʃən/
UK/kəmˈəʊʃən/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. a lot of noise and confused activity. You use this when people are running around or shouting and it is hard to see what is happening.
n. a state of confused and noisy disturbance. Refers to a sudden outbreak of activity or sound that disrupts a peaceful environment.
Examples
“I heard a loud commotion in the street outside.”
“The cat knocked over a stack of metal pans, causing a massive commotion in the middle of the night.”
“The sudden arrival of the celebrity caused such a commotion that the security team had to close the main entrance to the hotel to restore order.”
Examples
simple
“I heard a loud commotion in the street outside.”
contextual
“The cat knocked over a stack of metal pans, causing a massive commotion in the middle of the night.”
complex
“The sudden arrival of the celebrity caused such a commotion that the security team had to close the main entrance to the hotel to restore order.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the general state of noise; countable when referring to a specific event or instance.
Real-World Examples
“Hours later she told the BBC that they had heard a loud commotion and then realised it was a fire when they saw smoke emerging from the unit where the babies were sleeping.” “It exploded in the harbor but didn’t damage the Eagle , although the commotion did surprise nearby ships.” Etymology
From Middle French commocion, from Latin commōtiōnem, accusative singular of commōtiō, from commoveō + -tiō.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/commotion