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 by from ):

   He revolts from eating meat.

3. to rebel in feeling (usually followed by against ):

   to revolt against parental authority.

4. to feel horror or aversion (usually followed by at ):

   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 revolt
   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

Derived Forms

• reˈvolter, noun

Other Words From

• re·volter noun
• unre·volted 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

He also served as a lieutenant in the Gurkha Rifles, fighting in the Malayan Emergency, a communist-inspired revolt against the British colonial authorities.

From BBC

She quit as party leader three years ago after an internal revolt.

From BBC

Harris’ supporters say such claims are preposterous — that no prosecutor would decline viable murder cases to improve conviction rates, and that Harris’ line prosecutors would have revolted if she’d tried.

From Los Angeles Times

Dwight Eisenhower’s 1956 promise of aid inspired Hungarians to revolt against Soviet control, leading most to their death or to exile.

From Los Angeles Times

Why, then, did so many try to escape, protest or revolt?

From Salon

Related Words

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