rally

¹

[ral-ee]

verb (used with object)

rallied, rallying 

1. to bring into order again; gather and organize or inspire anew.

   The general rallied his scattered army.

   Synonyms: muster

2. to draw or call (persons) together for a common action or effort.

   He rallied his friends to help him.

   Synonyms: unite, join, group, assemble

3. to concentrate or revive, as one's strength, spirits, etc..

   They rallied their energies for the counterattack.

   Synonyms: reanimate

verb (used without object)

rallied, rallying 

1. to come together for common action or effort.

   The disunited party rallied in time for the election campaign.

   Synonyms: cooperate, collaborate, ally

2. to come together or into order again.

   The captain ordered his small force to rally at the next stream.

   Synonyms: revive, recuperate, recover, rebound, improve, reorganize, re-form, regroup

3. to come to the assistance of a person, party, or cause (often followed by to oraround ).

   to rally around a political candidate.

4. to recover partially from illness.

   He spent a bad night but began to rally by morning.

5. to find renewed strength or vigor.

   The runner seemed to be rallying for a final sprint.

6. Finance.

   1. (of securities) to rise sharply in price after a drop.

   2. (of the persons forming a stock market) to begin to trade with increased activity after a slow period.

7. (in tennis, badminton, etc.) to engage in a rally.

8. to participate in a long-distance automobile race.

9. Baseball.,  (of a team) to score one or more runs in one inning.

noun

plural

rallies 

1. a recovery from dispersion or disorder, as of troops.

2. a renewal or recovery of strength, activity, etc.

3. a partial recovery of strength during illness.

4. a drawing or coming together of persons, as for common action, as in a mass meeting.

   A political rally that brought together hundreds of the faithful.

5. a get-together of hobbyists or other like-minded enthusiasts, primarily to meet and socialize.

6. Finance.,  a sharp rise in price or active trading after a declining market.

7. (in tennis, badminton, etc.)

   1. an exchange of strokes between players before a point is scored.

   2. the hitting of the ball back and forth prior to the start of a match.

8. Boxing.,  an exchange of blows.

9. Baseball.,  the scoring of one or more runs in one inning.

10. British Theater.,  a quickening of pace for heightening the dramatic effect in a scene or act.

11. Shipbuilding.,  a series of blows with battering rams, made in order to drive wedges under a hull to raise it prior to launching.

12. Also rallye a long-distance automobile race, especially for sports cars, held over public roads unfamiliar to the drivers, with numerous checkpoints along the route.

rally

²

[ral-ee]

verb (used with object)

rallied, rallying 

1. Rare.,  to ridicule in a good-natured way; banter.

   Synonyms: twit, tease, chaff

rally

¹

/ ˈrælɪ /

verb

1. to bring (a group, unit, etc) into order, as after dispersal, or (of such a group) to reform and come to order

   the troops rallied for a final assault

2. to organize (supporters, etc) for a common cause or (of such people) to come together for a purpose

3. to summon up (one's strength, spirits, etc) or (of a person's health, strength, or spirits) to revive or recover

4. (intr) stock exchange to increase sharply after a decline

   steels rallied after a bad day

5. (intr) tennis squash badminton to engage in a rally

noun

1. a large gathering of people for a common purpose, esp for some political cause

   the Nuremberg Rallies

2. a marked recovery of strength or spirits, as during illness

3. a return to order after dispersal or rout, as of troops, etc

4. stock exchange a sharp increase in price or trading activity after a decline

5. tennis squash badminton an exchange of several shots before one player wins the point

6. a type of motoring competition over public and closed roads

rally

²

/ ˈrælɪ /

verb

1. to mock or ridicule (someone) in a good-natured way; chaff; tease

Other Word Forms

• rallier noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of rally¹

First recorded in 1585–95; from French verb rallier, Old French, equivalent to r(e)- re- + allier “to join”; ally

Origin of rally²

First recorded in 1660–70; from French railler “to rail ² ”

Word History and Origins

Origin of rally¹

C16: from Old French rallier , from _re- + alier to unite; see _ally

Origin of rally²

C17: from Old French railler to tease; see _rail ²

Example Sentences

After seeing his team look listless the previous week against Northwestern, particularly in the game’s early going, Skipper adopted the word “strain” as a rallying cry going into the game against the Nittany Lions.

From Los Angeles Times

She has been lobbying for her son's return, including at rallies with other hostage families.

From BBC

More than 1,000 people attended a rally in Manchester city centre on Sunday which commemorated those killed and injured in the attack.

From BBC

State legislators and nursing organizations have begun rallying to better support public nursing programs.

From Los Angeles Times

John Redwood, a former Tory MP who once headed up Thatcher's policy unit in Downing Street, said the British energy industry could provide a similar cause for the party's activists to rally behind.

From BBC