protest

1 of 2

noun

pro·​test ˈprō-ˌtest 

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

2 of 2

verb

pro·​test prə-ˈtest 

ˈprō-ˌtest,

prō-ˈtest

protested; protesting; protests

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

1

: to make a protestation

2

: to make or enter a protest

protester noun

or protestor

prə-ˈte-stər 

ˈprō-ˌte-,

prō-ˈte-

Synonyms

Noun

• challenge
• complaint
• demur
• demurral
• demurrer
• difficulty
• exception
• expostulation
• fuss
• kick
• objection
• question
• remonstrance
• stink

Verb

• affirm
• allege
• assert
• aver
• avouch
• avow
• claim
• contend
• declare
• insist
• maintain
• profess
• purport
• warrant

Choose the Right Synonym for protest

assert, declare, affirm, protest, avow mean to state positively usually in anticipation of denial or objection.

assert implies stating confidently without need for proof or regard for evidence.

asserted that modern music is just noise

declare stresses open or public statement.

declared her support for the candidate

affirm implies conviction based on evidence, experience, or faith.

affirmed the existence of an afterlife

protest emphasizes affirming in the face of denial or doubt.

protested that he really had been misquoted

avow stresses frank declaration and acknowledgment of personal responsibility for what is declared.

avowed that all investors would be repaid in full

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

And sometimes protests have to cross lines to make a point. —Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2023

The government is reviewing security around parliament after a recent protest trapped lawmakers inside. —Henry Austin, NBC News, 24 Nov. 2023

The protest, dubbed Shut It Down for Palestine, was largely peaceful despite the angry shouts and chants for a cease-fire to the war. —Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 24 Nov. 2023

The industry’s dirty legacy has held back hiring of graduates and led to public protests, hampering efforts to expand production and open new mines. —Yusuf Khan, WSJ, 23 Nov. 2023

Unusually, a protest vote may be coalescing around a centrist, Pieter Omtzigt, as the Dutch vote in national elections on Wednesday. —Claire Moses, New York Times, 21 Nov. 2023

The attempt to bring Altman back came after mass employee protests and Altman’s allies, including Microsoft executives, pushing for his return. —Paolo Confino, Fortune, 20 Nov. 2023

This was in part an offshoot of the growing youth activism around global warming during the late 2010s, with groups such as Greta Thunberg’s Fridays for Future beginning to stage school climate strikes and other protests around the world. —Stephanie Hanes, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Nov. 2023

Part of this strategy, Stein says, has involved the release of the GoPro footage taken by Hamas terrorists during the Oct. 7 massacre (which was screened at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles on Wednesday and drew protests from pro-Palestinian activists). —Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 12 Nov. 2023

Verb

Members of the city’s Jewish community, spurred by messages on social media, turned out in droves to support a coffee shop owner in Manhattan who had said that his employees had walked out to protest his company’s support for Israel. —Alan Yuhas, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2023

Columbia students protested over university administrators’ decision, which also put prohibitions on another group, Jewish Voice for Peace. —Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 24 Nov. 2023

Related The skeptics have legitimate points, but skeptics also protested electronic instruments, drum machines, CDs, file sharing and programmed tracks. —Tom Roland, Billboard, 22 Nov. 2023

Students and young people protested at universities and concerts, and the military responded with extreme violence. —Matthew Dursum, SPIN, 20 Nov. 2023

OpenAI employees have vocally protested Altman’s firing and the subsequent departure of Brockman. —Rachel Lerman, Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2023

Michigan originally protested Harbaugh’s suspension and sued the Big Ten, but, earlier this week, the school dropped the suit and agreed to accept that Harbaugh would not be on the sidelines for the rest of the season. —Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 18 Nov. 2023

Police disputed the groups' claim that members were protesting peacefully. —Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 16 Nov. 2023

Congressional staffers recently protested Congress’ lack of action with a public vigil, noting the outpour of demands for a cease-fire from constituents. —Evan Minsker, Pitchfork, 14 Nov. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from protester

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French protester, from Latin protestari, from pro- forth + testari to call to witness — more at pro-, testament

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing protest

• under protest
• counter-protest

• under protest
• counter-protest

Kids Definition

protest

1 of 2 noun

pro·​test ˈprō-ˌtest 

: a complaint, objection, or display of unwillingness or disapproval

protest

2 of 2 verb

pro·​test prə-ˈtest 

ˈprō-ˌtest,

prō-ˈtest

1

: to declare positively : assert

protested their innocence

2

a

: to make a protest against

protested the higher tax rate

b

: to object strongly

protest against a new highway

protester noun

or protestor

-ˈtes-tər 

-tes-

Medical Definition

protest

see masculine protest

Legal Definition

protest

noun

pro·​test

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

protest verb