English Reference
Adjective

rowdy

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈɹaʊdi/ UK /ɹˈaʊdi/ row·dy UK spelling rowdies

adj.noisy, rough, and out of control. You use this to describe people who are having a lot of fun but are being too loud or aggressive.

adj.characterised by noisy, rough, or disorderly behaviour. Often used to describe crowds or social gatherings where participants lack self-restraint.


SIMPLE

The rowdy fans cheered loudly for their team.

CONTEXTUAL

The bar manager had to ask a rowdy group of customers to leave after they started shouting at other tables.

COMPLEX

Security personnel were deployed to manage the rowdy atmosphere outside the stadium, ensuring that the high spirits of the supporters did not escalate into physical altercations.

Usage

Typically used to describe groups of people, crowds, or social environments.


Possibly from row (“noisy argument”), originally used as a noun.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated