revolt

American  

[ri-vohlt] / rɪˈvoʊlt /

verb (used without object)

1. to break away from or rise against constituted authority, as by open rebellion; cast off allegiance or subjection to those in authority; rebel; mutiny.

   to revolt against the present government.

2. to turn away in mental rebellion, utter disgust, or abhorrence (usually followed byfrom ).

   He revolts from eating meat.

3. to rebel in feeling (usually followed byagainst ).

   to revolt against parental authority.

4. to feel horror or aversion (usually followed byat ).

   to revolt at the sight of blood.

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verb (used with object)

1. to affect with disgust or abhorrence.

   Such low behavior revolts me.

noun

1. the act of revolting; an insurrection or rebellion.

   Synonyms:

   putsch, disorder, uprising

2. an expression or movement of spirited protest or dissent.

   a voter revolt at the polls.

revolt British  

/ rɪˈvəʊlt /

noun

1. a rebellion or uprising against authority

2. in the process or state of rebelling

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verb

1. (intr) to rise up in rebellion against authority

2. (usually passive) to feel or cause to feel revulsion, disgust, or abhorrence

Other Word Forms

• revolter noun
• unrevolted adjective

Etymology

Origin of revolt

1540–50; (v.) < Middle French revolter < Italian rivoltare to turn around < Vulgar Latin *revolvitāre, frequentative of Latin revolvere to roll back, unroll, revolve; (noun) < French révolte < Italian rivolta, derivative of rivoltare

Example Sentences

Like there was a dark cloud of rank, revolting air around me that no one wanted to penetrate for fear of excruciating pain or agonizing injury.

From Literature

The merger of a Baloch state into newly formed Pakistan at the end of British colonial rule sparked a revolt that has lasted nearly eight decades.

From The Wall Street Journal

Brad Karp, who helped legions of clients navigate boardroom intrigue, was pushed out from the chairmanship of Paul Weiss by an internal revolt after his chummy emails with Jeffrey Epstein came to light.

From The Wall Street Journal

There are, of course, legitimate disabilities that call for accommodation, but the Gen Xer in me revolts at the way everything has been pathologized and turned into a condition.

From The Wall Street Journal

A man so adept at helping clients navigate boardroom intrigue was pushed out from Paul Weiss’s chairmanship by an internal revolt after 18 years at the helm.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• defection
• insurgency
• insurrection
• mutiny
• rebellion
• revolution