protest
noun
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
Origin of protest
SYNONYMS FOR protest
synonym study for protest
OTHER WORDS FROM protest
Words nearby protest
VOCAB BUILDER
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.
Where does protest come from?
The first records of protest come from the 1300s. It derives from the Latin prōtestārī, meaning “to declare publicly,” from the root testārī, meaning “to testify.” The pro- in protest doesn’t mean “in favor of” or “supporting” as it does in some other terms—instead it’s used to indicate a sense of outwardness.
To protest is to speak out against something. It’s almost always used in a way that indicates a stance against something considered negative—something that the protesters want to see change. Perhaps the most recognizable form of protest is when a large group of people assembles in the streets to march, chant, and carry signs with messages about their cause. But protesting can take many forms. Sometimes, a protest can be a refusal to do something. Rosa Parks protested racist treatment by refusing to move when a white man tried to take her seat on the bus. Her protest is often considered one of the events that launched the civil rights movement in the U.S., which included protests against systemic racism in the form of marches, rallies, sit-ins, and boycotts.
Some protests are massive demonstrations, like those in which citizens rallied against their authoritarian governments during the Arab Spring in 2010 and 2011. Others are much smaller and much more narrow in scope. A handful of people might protest outside of their local government building. Protests don’t always have to take place in public, but that’s often the most effective way for people to have their voices heard.
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What are some other forms related to protest?
- protester (noun)
- protestor (noun)
- protestingly (adverb)
- protestable (adjective)
- protestive (adjective)
What are some synonyms for protest?
What are some words that share a root or word element with protest?
What are some words that often get used in discussing protest?
How is protest used in real life?
There are many forms of protest and people protest against many different things. The word is most commonly used to refer to a public display of disapproval.
Washington DC! NYC! Philly! Houston! Seattle! London! Amsterdam! Paris! Massive protests all across America and around the world!!! For the first time, IN A LONG TIME, I actually believe there really are more of this than there are of them. #BlackLivesMattter pic.twitter.com/jG4CLp2JHF
— Kenny BooYah! (@KwikWarren) June 7, 2020
A year ago today: More than a million people had jammed Hong Kong’s streets to protest the now-withdrawn extradition bill in the biggest demonstration in years. Many said they feared it put the city’s vaunted legal independence at risk. https://t.co/485gQDxmww #HongKongProtests pic.twitter.com/YQAQA7C49o
— Jessie Pang (@JessiePang0125) June 8, 2020
“I’m deeply ashamed”: Another Facebook employee resigned in protest over the company’s handling of Trump’s posts https://t.co/4hbKMeVhkk
— Carla Gentry (@data_nerd) June 5, 2020
Try using protest!
Is protest used correctly in the following sentence?
Citizens held a protest outside the mayor’s office to congratulate him on a job well done.