protest

American  

[proh-test, pruh-test, proh-test] / ˈproʊ tɛst, prəˈtɛst, ˈproʊ tɛst /

noun

• protests
  plural

1. an expression or declaration of objection, disapproval, or dissent, often in opposition to something a person is powerless to prevent or avoid.

   a protest against increased taxation.

   Antonyms:

   approval

2. Commerce.

   1. a formal notarial certificate attesting the fact that a check, note, or bill of exchange has been presented for acceptance or payment and that it has been refused.

   2. the action taken to fix the liability for a dishonored bill of exchange or note.

3. Law.

   1. (upon one's payment of a tax or other state or city exaction) a formal statement disputing the legality of the demand.

   2. a written and attested declaration made by the master of a ship stating the circumstances under which some damage has happened to the ship or cargo, or other circumstances involving the liability of the officers, crew, etc.

4. Sports. a formal objection or complaint made to an official.

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verb (used without object)

• protests,
  present (3rd person singular)
• protested,
  past participle,  past
• protesting
  present participle

1. to give manifest expression to objection or disapproval; remonstrate.

   Synonyms:

   complain

   Antonyms:

   approve

2. to make solemn or earnest declaration.

   Synonyms:

   attest, aver, avow, asseverate

verb (used with object)

• protests,
  present (3rd person singular)
• protested,
  past participle,  past
• protesting
  present participle

1. to make a protest or remonstrance against; object to.

2. to say in protest or remonstrance.

3. to declare solemnly or earnestly; affirm; assert.

4. to make a formal declaration of the nonacceptance or nonpayment of (a bill of exchange or note).

5. Obsolete. to call to witness.

protest British  

noun

1. 1. public, often organized, dissent or manifestation of such dissent

   2. ( as modifier )

      a protest march

2. a declaration or objection that is formal or solemn

3. an expression of disagreement or complaint

   without a squeak of protest

4. 1. a formal notarial statement drawn up on behalf of a creditor and declaring that the debtor has dishonoured a bill of exchange or promissory note

   2. the action of drawing up such a statement

   3. a formal declaration by a taxpayer disputing the legality or accuracy of his assessment

5. a statement made by the master of a vessel attesting to the circumstances in which his vessel was damaged or imperilled

6. the act of protesting

7. having voiced objections; unwillingly

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verb

1. to make a strong objection (to something, esp a supposed injustice or offence)

2. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to assert or affirm in a formal or solemn manner

3. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to put up arguments against; disagree; complain; object

   ``I'm okay,'' she protested

   he protested that it was not his turn to wash up

4. (tr) to object forcefully to

   leaflets protesting Dr King's murder

5. (tr) to declare formally that (a bill of exchange or promissory note) has been dishonoured

Usage

What does protest mean? Protest most commonly means a public show of disapproval of or opposition to something. Protests are often held against things like a nation’s involvement in a war or specific government policies or forms of injustice. A close synonym is demonstration. Such protests are often held in public spaces by people who want to display their disapproval openly in order to bring awareness to their cause and put pressure on authorities to make changes. A person who participates in a protest can be called a protester or a protestor. (The -er spelling is much more common, but the -or spelling has increased in usage.)Protest is often used as a verb meaning to participate in a protest. It can also be used as a verb in a more general way meaning to show disapproval or disagreement, as in My kids always protest when I try to serve them vegetables, but they end up eating them. Sometimes, protest might refer to an official complaint or objection, as in They lodged an official protest. This sense can also be used as a verb, as in The team protested their loss with the league, claiming unfair treatment by referees. To resign in protest means to quit in a way that’s meant to show disagreement or disapproval of something that’s happened. To do something under protest means to do it unwillingly or with strong objections. Example: The colonists protested the increased taxes by refusing to pay them.

Synonym Usage

See declare.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• protester
  noun
• protestor
  noun
• reprotest
  noun
• reprotest
  verb
• half-protested
  adjective
• half-protesting
  adjective
• nonprotesting
  adjective
• protestable
  adjective
• protestant
  adjective
• protestive
  adjective
• unprotested
  adjective
• unprotesting
  adjective
• protestingly
  adverb
• unprotestingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• protests
  plural

Participles

• protesting
  present
• protested
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• protest
  simple
• protests
  simple
• have protested
  perfect
• has protested
  perfect
• am protesting
  progressive
• are protesting
  progressive
• is protesting
  progressive
• have been protesting
  perfect progressive
• has been protesting
  perfect progressive

Past

• protested
  simple
• had protested
  perfect
• was protesting
  progressive
• were protesting
  progressive
• had been protesting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will protest
  simple
• will have protested
  perfect
• will be protesting
  progressive
• will have been protesting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of protest

First recorded in 1350–1400; (for the verb) late Middle English protesten, from Middle French protester, from Latin prōtestārī “to declare publicly,” from prō- pro- ¹ + testārī “to testify” (derivative of testis “a witness”); noun derivative of the verb

Explanation

A protest is a formal declaration of objection. If students at your school are fed up with the overly restrictive dress code, they might stage a protest. Washington, D.C. is often the site of political protests. Protest is both a noun and a verb. You've probably seen news about protests, because people all over the world organize them when they need to get a message across urgently. A protest doesn't have to be on the world scale, however. You might protest against eating frozen pizza for the third night in a row, and you've certainly seen a little kid protest against going to bed. When protest is political, it's also known as dissent.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

protest protests protested protesting

To his surprise, the video struck a nerve, and before long Mawarire was leading a protest movement of 12 million people.

From Slate ● Sep. 20, 2026

Pro-Palestinian groups including Philly Palestine Coalition and Shut Down D&Z organised a small protest near the stadium.

From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026

Fishermen on Thursday blocked the entrance to two ports and a petrol depot in southern France in protest at rising fuel prices linked to the US-Iran war.

From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026

A White House official called the increase “rather unfortunate”—a mild protest.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

Penelope was about to protest, for she had not thought to bring a gift for Miss Mortimer.

From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood

Catching and killing sharks has a long and controversial history in Western Australia - there were months of huge protests in 2014 when the state government authorised a cull after a spate of attacks.

From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026

Before they joined the street protests, Taraneh and Romina weren’t especially political.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026

She said Third Act co-sponsors protests at Dodger Stadium, and she and others planned to meet at Vin Scully Avenue and Stadium Way for Sunday’s game against the San Francisco Giants.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026

Our school shut down amid protests and hostility.

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

We do not believe that Watts and Newark are the answers....But unheard protests lead to frustration and the accidents that have created difficulties in other cities.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

At this point, even pacifying the thousands of fans who protested against the club's ownership before the Old Trafford defeat by 10-man City looks beyond them.

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

Irish President Catherine Connolly, a longtime critic of Trump who protested his previous presidential visit in 2019, met privately with the president Saturday.

From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2026

Workers and retirees in the telecommunications, oil and teaching sectors have protested deteriorating living conditions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

“I don’t believe that’s why we didn’t play well enough, I really don’t,” protested McVay.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

“How can I give you that?” protested Taran.

From "The Black Cauldron" by Lloyd Alexander

He was expelled from Prairie View A&M University in 1971 after protesting against the expulsion of the editor of the student newspaper.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

On the ground, though, the people protesting in Albania are against something much bigger.

From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026

In a reflection of public concern, the meeting on the campus of University of North Carolina was met with about 100 to 200 people protesting AI's fast development.

From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026

But the protesting families, most of whom earn a living from daily wage work, say they have farmed the land for generations.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

After Petey left, dragging the people of Bone Gap with her—including a vigorously protesting Jonas Apple, who wanted statements, damn it—Finn went to his room to check on the Kittens.

From "Bone Gap" by Laura Ruby

Related Words

• affirm
• assert
• declare
• demonstrate
• fight
• insist
• maintain
• object
• oppose
• resist
• revolt