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

By the 1530s there were reports of conspiracies to revolt, as well as the establishment of colonies by escapees from slavery.

From Los Angeles Times

Virginia Arce, 48, decorated the formal gown Sheinbaum wore in September when she became the first woman to give the Cry of Independence -- a call for revolt against Spanish rule still celebrated every year.

From Barron's

He’s been watching what he’s called a “property tax revolt” and noted other 2026 efforts to end property taxes in Wyoming, Michigan and Ohio.

From MarketWatch

He initially refused to answer, but later downplayed the revolt to CNN.

From Salon

The show has included the usual mix of potentially terrifying or revolting trials for the celebrities, including parachuting into the jungle, crawling through stinky slime and encountering creatures including crocodiles.

From BBC

Related Words

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