noisy and lively; unrestrained or unruly (of the wind, sea, etc) turbulent or stormy
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
bois•ter•ous /ˈbɔɪstərəs, -strəs/USA pronunciation
adj.
bois•ter•ous•ness, n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- rough and noisy;
clamorous: boisterous laughter.
bois•ter•ous•ness, n. [uncountable]
bois•ter•ous
(boi′stər əs, -strəs),USA pronunciation adj.
bois′ter•ous•ly, adv.
bois′ter•ous•ness, n.
- rough and noisy;
noisily jolly or rowdy;
clamorous;
unrestrained:the sound of boisterous laughter. - (of waves, weather, wind, etc.) rough and stormy.
- [Obs.]rough and massive.
- 1425–75; late Middle English boistrous, variant of Middle English boistous crude, strong, fierce, gross; of obscure origin, originally
bois′ter•ous•ness, n.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged uproarious, obstreperous, roistering, loud, vociferous, impetuous.
- 1, 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged tempestuous, tumultuous, turbulent, violent, wild.
- 1, 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged calm, serene.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'boisterous' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Roaring Twenties
- beer bust
- bevy
- bluster
- cain
- corroboree
- ebullient
- good old boy
- guffaw
- haw-haw
- high jinks
- hilarity
- hoedown
- horse
- horseplay
- hoyden
- jink
- jinks
- kidney
- knee-slapper
- knock about
- knockabout
- mirth
- nerve
- obstreperous
- orgy
- quean
- rackety
- rag
- raise
- rambunctious
- rampageous
- rave
- revel
- revelry
- riot
- riotous
- rip-roaring
- roaring
- robust
- robustious
- roil
- roister
- rollick
- rollicking
- romp
- rort
- rowdy
- rumbustious
- shivoo