roar
B2Neutral; can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but leans slightly informal.
Definition
Meaning
A full, deep, prolonged cry or sound made by a large wild animal, especially a lion.
Any loud, deep, continuous, and often chaotic or overwhelming sound, such as that of an engine, a crowd, or strong wind and waves.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies power, threat, lack of control, or overwhelming force. Can describe sounds that are both intimidating and impressive.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Slight spelling preference for 'roared' vs. 'roaring' in compound verb forms, but not systematic. The word is equally common in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical core connotations. In American sports contexts, 'roar of the crowd' is extremely frequent.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + roar[Subject] + roar + prepositional phrase (e.g., with laughter, into life, past)[Subject] + roar + adverb (e.g., loudly, angrily)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “roar with laughter”
- “a roar of approval”
- “do a roaring trade”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Informally used in 'do a roaring trade' (sell very well).
Academic
Used in literary analysis or descriptive geography (e.g., 'the roar of the waterfall').
Everyday
Common for describing loud animals, vehicles, crowds, laughter, wind, and water.
Technical
Used in acoustics or automotive engineering to describe sound levels and characteristics.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The lion will roar to warn intruders.
- The motorbikes roared past the pub.
- The crowd roared when the goal was scored.
American English
- The crowd roared its approval.
- The engines roared to life.
- He roared with laughter at the joke.
adverb
British English
- The car went roaring past at incredible speed.
American English
- The crowd laughed roaringly at the comedian's act.
adjective
British English
- The roaring fire was a welcome sight.
- They did a roaring trade in souvenirs.
American English
- The roaring twenties were a time of great change.
- We could hear the roaring waterfall from miles away.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The lion can roar.
- The car engine is loud.
- We heard a loud roar from the jungle.
- The crowd roared when their team won.
- The wind roared all night.
- The plane's engines roared as it took off.
- The comedian had the audience roaring with laughter.
- The company's new product roared onto the market.
- Amid the roaring torrents, the kayaker fought to stay upright.
- A roar of indignation swept through the chamber after the controversial statement.
- The vintage fighter plane roared past, its engine screaming.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a LION. A LION ROARS. Both words have an 'O' sound and imply power and loudness.
Conceptual Metaphor
LOUD SOUND IS AN ANIMAL'S CRY (e.g., the engine roared); SUCCESS IS LOUD NOISE (e.g., the product roared onto the market).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'рев' (rev) for an engine – while related, 'roar' is broader. Avoid using 'roar' for a human's angry shout (кричать), as it is specifically bestial/mechanistic.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'roar' for a human speaking voice (e.g., 'He roared his answer' is poetic/exceptional, not standard). Overusing 'roar' for any loud noise instead of more specific words like 'rumble', 'crash', or 'bang'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'roar' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but typically not for normal speech. It is used for people making very loud, uncontrolled, or non-verbal sounds, such as 'roar with laughter' or 'roar in pain'.
'Roar' implies a deeper, more continuous, and often more chaotic or primal sound (like an animal, engine, or crowd). 'Shout' is a deliberate, sharp vocal projection of words by a person.
Yes, it is considered an onomatopoeic word, as it imitates the sound it describes.
Yes, it is commonly used as both a noun ('the roar of the engine') and a verb ('the engine roared').