Robert, Rome, and ruler. Those are three nouns: a person, a place, and a thing. Given their broad stroke in the English language, there’s a lot to say about nouns. In this article, we discuss their important function. But, before we do, let’s roll through 50 nouns that start with R.
50 Nouns Starting With R
What would be your reaction to a recipe for vocabulary success? Truthfully, reading is the best way to build our vocabulary. But, scanning word lists can also be an exciting and effective endeavor. Here are 50 of the most popular R-nouns, plus one of their definitions and a sampling of synonyms, too:
Noun | Definition | Synonym |
a small, long-eared mammal with soft fur that bounces and burrows | bunny, hare, cottontail | |
a contest to see who moves the quickest | chase, competition, run | |
a form of communication where sounds are converted into electromagnetic waves | broadcast, receiver, shortwave | |
a downpour of water or other substance | drizzle, shower, storm | |
an order or series | assortment, collection, variety | |
a ratio or proportion | incidence, proportion, quota | |
an assigned position or standing | classification, grade, score | |
the relation to a whole | percentage, proportion, quotient | |
a response | opinion, reflex, reply | |
a person who reads | bookworm, proofreader, scholar | |
the quality of being true | actuality, existence, tangibility | |
the cause for something to happen | intent, motive, impetus | |
a formula or directions to do or make something | instructions, pattern, process | |
A permanent file of something | annals, archive, chronicle | |
the return of something | comeback, regaining, retrieval | |
a mention of a situation | indication, mention, citation | |
a specific area within a larger area | country, province, realm | |
the act of signing up for something | enrollment, booking, matriculation | |
a connection between two people or things | affiliation, affinity, kinship | |
a remedy, aid, or relaxation | satisfaction, ease, comfort | |
a belief in a higher power | belief, faith, creed | |
a person or thing that takes the place of another | alternate, stand-in, substitute | |
a collection of information about something | statement, summary, writeup | |
a question or thing asked | petition, appeal, inquiry | |
an examination or study | analysis, experiment, investigation | |
a refusal to give into something | defiance, opposition, rebellion | |
an answer or judgment for something to be done | answer, decision, verdict | |
a vacation place with food and entertainment | hotel, retreat, spa | |
a supply drawn upon | asset, reserve, wherewithal | |
a show of admiration for someone or something | esteem, honor, regard | |
an answer to something | answer, reply, reaction | |
accountability or obligation toward something | liability, duty, onus | |
relaxation or sleep | repose, cessation, abatement | |
a place of business where food and beverages can be selected | bistro, cafe, eatery | |
the outcome of an action | conclusion, denouement, effect | |
income, particularly money taken in by a business by selling products or services | assets, earnings, sales | |
an examination, report, or evaluation | analysis, assessment, audit | |
something that is correct or accurate | appropriate, auspicious, just | |
a banded piece of jewelry worn around the finger | band, jewelry, loop | |
the possibility or chance of loss | danger, hazard, jeopardy | |
a stream of water that empties into another body of water | creek, tributary, brook | |
a path, course, or space for traveling between places | street, highway, avenue | |
a hard mass of stone | mineral, stone, pebble | |
a part that somebody performs in a job or activity | capacity, duty, function | |
a space made for people to be in | accommodation, apartment, dormitory | |
the part of the plant that is underground | bulb, taproot, tuber | |
something in a circular shape | annular, circular, spherical | |
a path for travel | way, course, path | |
a number of people or things arranged in a line | series, rank, file | |
an official regulation | edict, mandate, regulation |
What Is a Noun?
A noun is a person, place, thing, or idea. Many nouns need to be accompanied by articles, such as “a,” “an,” or “the.” For example, “a restaurant” or “the room.”
One of the primary functions of nouns is to act as the subject of the sentence. So, in the sentence, “The radio is full of static,” “radio” is a noun. Nouns are also direct objects. In the sentence, “Your mother deserves respect,” “respect” is the direct object. It’s the object of the verb “deserves.”
Types of Nouns
Since nouns can pop up in many different parts of a sentence, it won’t come as a surprise to learn that there are many different types of nouns. Here are five of the most common varieties:
- Proper nouns name specific things, like the names of people, cities, states, countries, buildings, and books. As proper nouns, they are capitalized. So, “Rome” is a proper noun, but “city” is a common noun.
- Common nouns refer to general items, such as “river,” instead of “River Thames.”
- Abstract nouns are used when you can’t touch the noun. These nouns are theoretical, such as “romance” or “respect.”
- Collective nouns refer to large groups, such as a “range” of mountains.
- Possessive nouns demonstrate ownership over something else. For example, in “Rosa’s rosaries,” “Rosa’s” is a possessive noun, indicating that she owns the rosaries.
To continue to explore these categories, check out Types of Nouns.
10 Example Sentences
Ready to read these R-nouns rumble and roll through a few sentences? Here are 10 of the above nouns in action:
- She would like a rabbit for Christmas.
- What is that professor’s rating?
- I did not like their reaction to the news.
- The reality is that we’re happy.
- What is your recipe for success?
- Let’s travel to that region of Italy.
- Their relationship seems to be built on laughter and fun.
- That’s her grandmother’s gold ring.
- Why are the rocks here colored pink?
- There’s only one rule: work hard.
Reach for R-Words
Don't stop your search for R-words there. They're not all nouns and adjectives. Visit WordFinder by YourDictionary for a comprehensive list of words that start with the letter R to expand your study of terms that begin with this letter. Review the full list, or use the on-screen search feature to limit results to words of a certain length or that begin, end with, or include specific letters. You're sure to enjoy ramping up your vocabulary with this easy-to-use resource.
Robust R-Nouns
That was riveting, right? R is a pretty popular letter of the alphabet. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. How about the words that modify nouns? Here are 20 Adjectives That Start With R! If your next bit of radical writing requires a little bit of alliteration, then reliable word lists like these will be just the ticket!