What does roared mean?
Roared means that something made a deep, loud, and powerful sound. A person may roar with laughter or excitement, while a crowd may roar in approval; animals, engines, wind, and waves can also roar. The word is strongly figurative as well as literal: it suggests a sound with considerable force and intensity, rather than an ordinary shout or noise. In sentences such as “the crowd roared” or “the engine roared,” it conveys excitement, energy, or power. Because it describes the sound of the subject rather than merely its intensity, roared is often especially effective when a short, memorable image is wanted. It is the past tense and past participle of roar, and is understood in both British and American English.
verbRoared is the past tense and past participle of roar, meaning to make a deep, loud, resonant sound. It can describe a person, animal, vehicle, engine, or natural phenomenon producing such a sound.
- To make a deep, loud, resonant sound, especially with the voice or as an animal.
- To make a loud mechanical or natural sound.
- To speak or shout with great force, especially with laughter or excitement.
"The old engine roared as it pulled the train up the hill."
"The stadium roared when the winning goal was scored."
"She roared with laughter at the absurdity of the situation."
From a lion's thunderous call to the growl of an engine, a roar gives ordinary sounds an unmistakable force.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does roared come from?
The word comes from the English verb roar, which was used in Middle English and has an uncertain origin. Its sound associations with a deep, forceful vocal noise have remained stable, while modern usage extended the verb naturally to engines, storms, crowds, and other sources of loud resonant sound.
Related word forms
How roared is actually used
Roared is especially vivid and forceful. It is commonly used for loud human or animal vocalizations and for powerful mechanical or natural sounds; figurative uses often emphasize intensity, excitement, or approval.
Easily confused with roared
Rored is a much rarer verb meaning to speak or cry out hoarsely, whereas roared commonly means to make a deep, powerful, resonant sound.