tumult
gb/tˈuməlt/ us/tˈuməlt/
C1
English
~ 25400
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
C1
event
1
loud, confused noise from a crowd
A loud and confused noise made by many people or by wild movement.
Usage pattern:
the tumult of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "tumult" with "tumble" because they look similar. "Tumult" is a noise or state of chaos; "tumble" is the action of falling or turning over.
Synonyms
uproar (Very close in meaning; slightly more common and less formal than "tumult.")
Antonyms
silence (Describes the complete absence of sound, which contrasts with the loud noise of tumult.)
Collocations
tumult of voices
|amid the tumult
|over the tumult
|tumult and shouting
|rise above the tumult
Themes
sound
|crowds
|events
|communication
|daily_life
Examples
- The judge struggled to make herself heard over the tumult in the courtroom.
- As the band walked on stage, a great tumult of cheering and shouting filled the arena.
- Police sirens added to the tumult of horns and shouting in the packed city square.
- The door burst open and a tumult of footsteps and excited voices rushed into the hall.
Learner examples
- We could not talk in the tumult of the busy market.
- The teacher raised his hand to calm the tumult in the classroom.
- Fans created a tumult when the singer came on stage.
- I heard a sudden tumult in the street and went to the window.
Noun
formal
C1
state
2
inner emotional confusion or turmoil
A feeling of very strong and mixed emotions that makes your mind or heart feel confused or not calm.
Usage pattern:
a tumult of [feelings/emotions]
Common mistake:
Learners may try to use "tumult" like an adjective (e.g., *"I feel tumult" or *"I am tumult"). It is a noun, so it should be used in phrases like "I feel inner tumult" or "My emotions are in tumult."
Synonyms
turmoil (Can describe both emotional and external confusion; "tumult" here focuses more on the emotional, often intense inner state.)
Antonyms
calm (Describes a peaceful, steady emotional state, which is the opposite of emotional tumult.)
Collocations
inner tumult
|emotional tumult
|a tumult of emotions
|spiritual tumult
|in the tumult of her feelings
Themes
emotions
|psychology
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He hid his inner tumult behind a calm smile.
- Her mind was in a tumult of fear, hope, and confusion.
- After the sudden news, he sat in silent tumult, unable to sort his feelings.
- The diary reveals the emotional tumult she experienced during those years.
Learner examples
- She felt a tumult of sadness and anger.
- His heart was in tumult after the breakup.
- In her inner tumult, she could not make a clear choice.
- The bad news threw him into deep tumult.
Noun
formal
C2
state
3
social or political upheaval and disorder
A time when a country or group has a lot of trouble, change, and disorder, often in politics or society.
Usage pattern:
political/social tumult in [a place]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "tumult" where a more neutral word like "change" or "problems" is enough. "Tumult" suggests serious and often violent disorder, not just normal change or mild difficulty.
Synonyms
upheaval (Focuses more on major change; "tumult" stresses the confusion and disorder that come with it.)
Antonyms
stability (Describes a steady and orderly condition in society or politics, which contrasts with the disorder of tumult.)
Collocations
political tumult
|social tumult
|years of tumult
|amid the tumult of war
|in the tumult of revolution
Themes
politics
|society
|history
|law
Examples
- The new constitution was written during a period of great political tumult.
- Amid the economic tumult of the decade, many families lost their homes.
- The country has emerged from years of social tumult and violence.
- Artists often produce powerful work in times of cultural tumult.
Learner examples
- The nation was in political tumult after the election.
- Many people left the country during the years of tumult.
- In the tumult of war, normal life stopped.
- They grew up in a time of social tumult and change.
Grammar
Dictionary form
tumult
IPA
GB/tˈuməlt/
US/tˈuməlt/
Syllables & stress
tu - mult (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (tu)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: tumult
- Plural: tumult, tumults
Word family
Forms
tumults
noun
Core family
tumultuous
adjective C1
Related words
tumultuously
adverb
Advanced or less common
tumultuousness
noun
Expressions
amid the tumult
1/əmˈɪd ðə tˈuməlt/
fixed phrase
literary
in the middle of noise and chaos
In the middle of loud noise and confused or wild activity.
Examples
- Amid the tumult, she kept her voice steady and calm.
- The small child stood crying amid the tumult of the fleeing crowd.
- Amid the tumult of the festival, we finally found a quiet side street.
inner tumult
1/ˈɪnɚ tˈuməlt/
fixed phrase
formal
strong confused feelings inside
Strong, mixed feelings inside a person that make them feel very troubled and not calm.
Examples
- Despite her inner tumult, she appeared relaxed to her friends.
- The novel describes the hero's inner tumult as he faces a hard choice.
- Meditation helped him quiet his inner tumult and think more clearly.