commotion
noun
com·mo·tion
kə-ˈmō-shən 
1
: a condition of civil unrest or insurrection
The commotion was finally brought to an end and peace was restored.
2
: steady or recurrent motion
the commotion of the surf
3
: mental excitement or confusion
… startled … into no ordinary state of commotion.—
Arnold Bennett
Examples of commotion in a Sentence
There was a sudden commotion when the actress entered the restaurant.
the commotion created when the nation's top rock band arrived in town
Recent Examples on the Web
During the commotion, the agent’s shaky cellphone video shows houses along the street and views of the sky.
—Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 10 Jan. 2026
In the heat of the moment, though, Certa was clearly walking after one of the officials, but Shrewsberry came barreling in as the official turned around to see the commotion.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 3 Jan. 2026
And for once, the Bulls could let themselves get caught up in the commotion.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
Neighbor Michael Senneville heard the commotion.
—Paul Burton, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Commotion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commotion. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Kids Definition
commotion
noun
com·mo·tion
kə-ˈmō-shən
1
: irregular or violent motion
2
: noisy excitement and confusion : tumult
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