revolt

[ri-vohlt]

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.

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

/ rɪˈvəʊlt /

noun

1. a rebellion or uprising against authority

2. in the process or state of rebelling

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of revolt¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of revolt¹

C16: from French révolter to revolt, from Old Italian rivoltare to overturn, ultimately from Latin revolvere to roll back, _revolve

Example Sentences

Penelope found this revolting, frankly, but it kept the children happily occupied and thus provided an opportunity for her to exercise her powers of deduction.

Read more on Literature

Despite the odds, many captives tried to free themselves, and there were a number of revolts, particularly when the vessel was anchored on the African coast.

Read more on Literature

“If people had known about the trade, it would have been open revolt,” said one UBS bond trader close to the action.

Read more on Literature

A group of young conservative MPs revolted over a pension reform proposal, which had already been adopted by the cabinet, arguing that it burdened future generations.

Read more on Barron's

He called his strategy “maximum pressure”—a full-court press aimed at provoking a revolt against the government by rendering living conditions in Venezuela intolerable, while at the same time trying to trigger a military uprising.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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