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

The split widens when a labor strike becomes an armed revolt, with Jacir gamely tracking the hardening or shifting loyalties of both her peasant and well-to-do characters.

From Los Angeles Times

Otherwise, the town would revolt and the show’s prospects would be ruined.

From Salon

Newman became one of reality television’s more memorable villains thanks to her run on “The Apprentice,” where her Machiavellian ways and unapologetic ambition revolted viewers and impressed her fake boss.

From Los Angeles Times

I read it again and again until my body revolted.

From Los Angeles Times

Habermas, who began teaching philosophy and sociology at the University of Frankfurt in the 1960s, vocally supported the student revolt at West German universities at the time.

From BBC

Related Words

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