# ruckus

/ˈɹəkəs/ (US) · /ɹˈʌkəs/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ruckus
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

a loud, noisy, and often unpleasant sound. It can also describe a situation where people are shouting or fighting loudly.

For teachers: a loud, noisy, and often chaotic disturbance. Often used to describe a sudden outbreak of noise or a scene of commotion.

## Examples

- The loud ruckus from the street kept me awake all night.
- A sudden ruckus in the hallway made the teacher stop her lesson and investigate.
- The sudden ruckus in the library was caused by a group of students who had accidentally knocked over several heavy shelves of books.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.