Nouns That Start With R

Updated June 4, 2021
nouns that start with r
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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

rabbit

a small, long-eared mammal with soft fur that bounces and burrows

bunny, hare, cottontail

race

a contest to see who moves the quickest

chase, competition, run

radio

a form of communication where sounds are converted into electromagnetic waves

broadcast, receiver, shortwave

rain

a downpour of water or other substance

drizzle, shower, storm

range

an order or series

assortment, collection, variety

rate

a ratio or proportion

incidence, proportion, quota

rating

an assigned position or standing

classification, grade, score

ratio

the relation to a whole

percentage, proportion, quotient

reaction

a response

opinion, reflex, reply

reader


a person who reads

bookworm, proofreader, scholar

reality

the quality of being true

actuality, existence, tangibility

reason

the cause for something to happen

intent, motive, impetus

recipe

a formula or directions to do or make something

instructions, pattern, process

record

A permanent file of something

annals, archive, chronicle

recovery

the return of something

comeback, regaining, retrieval

reference

a mention of a situation

indication, mention, citation

region

a specific area within a larger area

country, province, realm

registration

the act of signing up for something

enrollment, booking, matriculation

relationship

a connection between two people or things

affiliation, affinity, kinship

relief

a remedy, aid, or relaxation

satisfaction, ease, comfort

religion

a belief in a higher power

belief, faith, creed

replacement

a person or thing that takes the place of another

alternate, stand-in, substitute

report

a collection of information about something

statement, summary, writeup

request

a question or thing asked

petition, appeal, inquiry

research

an examination or study

analysis, experiment, investigation

resistance

a refusal to give into something

defiance, opposition, rebellion

resolution

an answer or judgment for something to be done

answer, decision, verdict

resort

a vacation place with food and entertainment

hotel, retreat, spa

resource

a supply drawn upon

asset, reserve, wherewithal

respect

a show of admiration for someone or something

esteem, honor, regard

response

an answer to something

answer, reply, reaction

responsibility

accountability or obligation toward something

liability, duty, onus

rest

relaxation or sleep

repose, cessation, abatement

restaurant

a place of business where food and beverages can be selected

bistro, cafe, eatery

result

the outcome of an action

conclusion, denouement, effect

revenue

income, particularly money taken in by a business by selling products or services

assets, earnings, sales

review

an examination, report, or evaluation

analysis, assessment, audit

right

something that is correct or accurate

appropriate, auspicious, just

ring

a banded piece of jewelry worn around the finger

band, jewelry, loop

risk

the possibility or chance of loss

danger, hazard, jeopardy

river

a stream of water that empties into another body of water

creek, tributary, brook

road

a path, course, or space for traveling between places

street, highway, avenue

rock

a hard mass of stone

mineral, stone, pebble

role

a part that somebody performs in a job or activity

capacity, duty, function

room

a space made for people to be in

accommodation, apartment, dormitory

root

the part of the plant that is underground

bulb, taproot, tuber

round

something in a circular shape

annular, circular, spherical

route

a path for travel

way, course, path

row

a number of people or things arranged in a line


series, rank, file

rule

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.”

capital letter r

    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.

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    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:

    1. She would like a rabbit for Christmas.
    2. What is that professor’s rating?
    3. I did not like their reaction to the news.
    4. The reality is that we’re happy.
    5. What is your recipe for success?
    6. Let’s travel to that region of Italy.
    7. Their relationship seems to be built on laughter and fun.
    8. That’s her grandmother’s gold ring.
    9. Why are the rocks here colored pink?
    10. 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.

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    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!