July 07, 2011
rambunctious (adjective)
\ram-BUNK-shus\ Hear it!
What does it mean?
: not under control : unruly, exuberant
How do you use it?
The substitute teacher entered the classroom to find a rambunctious group of kids . . .
Are you a word wiz?

Do you really know what "rambunctious" means? Test yourself! Which of the answers completes the sentence above and accurately shows what "rambunctious" means?

You're in control of "rambunctious" if you chose A! We know that answer B can't be right: if "rambunctious" kids are "unruly" and "not under control," they wouldn't be sitting quietly at their desks. Answer C implies that all the kids are watching practice, not being "exuberant." Answer D certainly shows the kids aren't in control, but it misses that "rambunctious" also means "exuberant," a word that usually describes joyously or playfully unrestrained behavior but not violent behavior. That leaves us with answer A, where the rambunctious children are chasing each other around the room.
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