Definition

A noisy and confused situation where there is a lot of movement and activity, often causing disturbance.

Example

There was a commotion in the street when the parade passed by.

Conversation

Did you hear all that commotion outside earlier?

Yeah, it sounded like a party or something crazy.

I wonder what caused all the commotion in the first place.

Maybe it was just kids having fun, but it sure was loud!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Commotion is formed from "com-" (meaning together) and "movere" (meaning to move). The word describes a situation where things are moving together in a chaotic or noisy manner, leading to disturbance or uproar.

Memory Tip

Think of things moving 'together' ('com-') in a chaotic way ('movere') — that's why commotion means a noisy disturbance.

Visually Confused Words