pro·test | \ ˈprō-ˌtest 
\
\Definition of protest
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : a solemn declaration of opinion and usually of dissent: such as
a : a sworn declaration that payment of a note or bill has been refused and that all responsible signers or debtors are liable for resulting loss or damage
b : a declaration made especially before or while paying that a tax is illegal and that payment is not voluntary
2 : the act of objecting or a gesture of disapproval
resigned in protest especially : a usually organized public demonstration of disapproval
3 : a complaint, objection, or display of unwillingness usually to an idea or a course of action
went under protest
4 : an objection made to an official or a governing body of a sport
protest
verbpro·test | \ prə-ˈtest , ˈprō-ˌtest, prō-ˈtest \
, ˈprō-ˌtest, prō-ˈtest \protested; protesting; protests
Definition of protest (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : to make solemn declaration or affirmation of
protest my innocence
2 : to execute or have executed a formal protest against (something, such as a bill or note)
3 : to make a statement or gesture in objection to
protested the abuses of human rights
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Other Words from protest
Verb
protester or protestor \ prə-ˈte-stər , ˈprō-ˌte- , prō-ˈte- \ noun
, ˈprō-ˌte- , prō-ˈte- \ nounSynonyms & Antonyms for protest
Synonyms: Noun
- challenge,
- complaint,
- demur,
- demurral,
- demurrer,
- difficulty,
- exception,
- expostulation,
- fuss,
- kick,
- objection,
- question,
- remonstrance,
- stink
Synonyms: Verb
- affirm,
- allege,
- assert,
- aver,
- avouch,
- avow,
- claim,
- contend,
- declare,
- insist,
- maintain,
- profess,
- purport,
- warrant
Antonyms: Verb
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Examples of protest in a Sentence
Noun
He heard protests from the crowd.
She told him to go to bed despite his protests that he wasn't tired.
There were cries of protest when the verdict was announced.
The suspect surrendered his gun without protest.
She was so upset by their decision that she resigned in protest.
The students launched a protest against the tuition increase. Verb
The victim's family protested at the judge's sentence.
There is no use protesting. I will not change my mind.
The coach protested the referee's call.
The decision was protested by dozens of people.
Students protested at the civil rights rally.
They were protesting against the death penalty.
Peace activists protested the war.
She protested that the law was unfair.
“But I'm innocent!” he protested.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun American democracy guarantees the right of peaceful protest.
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Dennis Pillion | Dpillion@al.com, al, "SPLC calls for investigation into Alabama AG’s role in Capitol protest," 10 Jan. 2021 Again we were reminded that the designation of a peaceful protest is one made by law enforcement and the state.
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Melissa Gira Grant, The New Republic, "This Isn’t an Insurrection. It’s an Alliance.," 6 Jan. 2021 In May, hundreds of people broke into Emeryville stores during the second night of protest in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd.
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Sarah Ravani, SFChronicle.com, "Former BART deputy chief named Emeryville police chief," 31 Dec. 2020 After three years of protest against the TPLF’s iron-fisted rule, the coalition had hoped Abiy’s parentage -- Oromo and Amhara, the two largest of Ethiopia’s ethnic groups -- would calm passions.
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Simon Marks, Bloomberg.com, "Ethiopia's Leader Won a Nobel Prize, but Can He Make Peace?," 18 Dec. 2020 On the season opener of the show, Lola finds herself in the middle of a protest and is detained by police for protecting a young protestor.
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Britni Danielle, Essence, "Simone Missick On The Daily Prayer Call That Sustained Her Faith And Family," 15 Dec. 2020 South African illustrator Subi Bosa created the illustrations for the book from photographs Williams sent of the protest.
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Christopher Arnott, courant.com, "Waterbury seventh-grader shares experiences of ‘Our 1st Protest’ in new book," 14 Dec. 2020 Because of passions on the right that Trump had stoked, the meetings Monday in some states were marked by tension and fears of violent protest.
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Evan Halper, Los Angeles Times, "Electoral college picks Biden, yet Trump’s bid to keep power could have lasting effect," 14 Dec. 2020 The songs effortlessly dip into funk, R. & B., and even spoken word, sounding from across generations as acts of protest.
—
Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, "My Thirty Favorite Albums of 2020," 8 Dec. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb New York City residents and community groups protest and demand that Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz takes immediate action to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the borough's jails.
—
Josiah Bates, Time, "With Over 275,000 Infections and 1,700 Deaths, COVID-19 Has Devastated the U.S. Prison and Jail Population," 28 Dec. 2020 Under the terms of Hong Kong’s handover from Britain to China, the territory is meant to enjoy its way of life, an independent judiciary, the ability to protest and other basic rights until at least 2047.
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Washington Post, "Hong Kong’s highest court upholds ban on masks at protests," 21 Dec. 2020 On Tuesday, China’s Foreign Ministry summoned the acting top U.S. diplomat in Beijing to protest the U.S. sanctions and vowed to take reciprocal countermeasures.
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Sha Hua, WSJ, "China Responds in Latest Sanctions Tit-for-Tat With U.S. Over Hong Kong," 10 Dec. 2020 Or some kind of fantasy where five hundred thousand people protest in Pyongyang and the regime just packs their bags and leaves and some transitional government comes in place.
—
Seyward Darby, Longreads, "The Secret Group Trying to Topple North Korea’s Regime," 25 Nov. 2020 For a white man to suggest that Black people should only protest or demand justice in a certain way further marginalizes this group’s efforts and gaslights the real and lived traumas of an entire race.
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The Salt Lake Tribune, "Commentary: How LDS apostle Dallin Oaks’ comments on racism and Black Lives Matter fall short," 19 Nov. 2020 Or some kind of fantasy where five hundred thousand people protest in Pyongyang and the regime just packs their bags and leaves and some transitional government comes in place.
—
Suki Kim, The New Yorker, "The Underground Movement Trying to Topple the North Korean Regime," 16 Nov. 2020 Last month, Spanish doctors staged a nationwide walkout to protest their working conditions and to warn the authorities against hiring additional doctors without adequate qualifications.
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Raphael Minder, New York Times, "Spain’s Other Covid Casualties: Undetected Cancer Cases," 16 Nov. 2020 On Saturday, Trump supporters, including white supremacists, demonstrated in downtown Washington to protest and dispute the outcome, echoing Trump’s unfounded allegations that election had been stolen through fraud.
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Todd J. Gillman, Dallas News, "After tweeting ‘He won,’ Trump walks back recognition of defeat: 'I concede NOTHING!’ because 'election was rigged’," 15 Nov. 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'protest.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for protest
protest
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of protest
(Entry 1 of 2)
: something said or done that shows disagreement with or disapproval of something
: an event at which people gather together to show strong disapproval about something
protest
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of protest (Entry 2 of 2)
: to show or express strong disagreement with or disapproval of something
: to show or express strong disapproval of something at a public event with other people
: to say (something that other people do not agree with or believe) in a forceful way
See the full definition for protest in the English Language Learners Dictionary
protest
verbpro·test | \ prə-ˈtest \
\protested; protesting
Kids Definition of protest
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : to complain strongly about : object to
Fans protested the umpire's decision.
2 : to declare positively : assert He protested his innocence.
protest
nounpro·test | \ ˈprō-ˌtest \
\Kids Definition of protest (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : a complaint or objection against an idea, an act, or a way of doing things
2 : an event in which people gather to show disapproval of something
protest
Medical Definition of protest
— see masculine protest
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protest
nounpro·test
Legal Definition of protest
1 : a solemn declaration of opinion and usually of disagreement: as
a : a solemn written declaration by a notary public or U.S. consul on behalf of the holder of an instrument (as a note) announcing dishonor and declaring the liability of all parties to the instrument for any loss or damage arising from such action also : the action of making or causing to be made such a declaration with due service of notice of dishonor
b : a declaration made by the master of a ship before a notary, consul, or other authorized officer upon arrival in port after a disaster declaring that any loss was not the fault of the crew but due to the disaster
c : a declaration made by a party especially before or while paying a tax or performing a demanded act by which the declarer asserts that the justice or legality of the tax or act is disputed and that compliance is not voluntary
2 : the act of objecting or a gesture of disapproval especially : a usually organized public demonstration of disapproval
under protest
: with noted objections (as of insufficient payment) and claims
cashed a check under protest
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Time Traveler for protest
The first known use of protest was in the 15th century
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