riot
n. countablen. a situation where a large group of people behaves in a violent way in public. It often involves fighting with police or damaging buildings.
n. a violent disturbance of the peace by a crowd. Often implies a collective reaction to a specific social or political grievance.
The peaceful protest turned into a riot after the sun went down.
Police were called to the stadium when a riot broke out between rival fans following the final whistle.
Historians argue that the riot was not a random act of violence but a calculated response to years of systemic economic neglect in the urban center.
From Middle English riot (“debauched living, dissipation”), from Old French riote (“debate”), from rioter (“to quarrel”), perhaps related to riboter or from Latin rugio (“I roar”). Compare French riotte and Occitan riòta.
Commonly used with the verbs 'break out', 'spark', or 'quell'.
The crowd made a riotA riot broke outLearners often use 'make' or 'do', but 'riot' is typically the subject of 'break out' or the object of 'start'.