protest

noun

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

verb

pro·test | \ prə-ˈtest

, ˈprō-ˌtest, prō-ˈtest\

protested; protesting; protests

Definition of protest (Entry 2 of 2)

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

Other Words from protest Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about protest

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Choose the Right Synonym for protest

Verb

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.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The sit-in protests that began in the 1960s resulted in the formation of the Student Nonviolent Coordination Committee (SNCC), which traces its own roots to training sessions at Highlander. — Lucy Diavolo, Teen Vogue, "A Fire at the Highlander Center Won’t Stop this Legendary Civil Rights Movement Training Organization," 10 Apr. 2019 Hay tells Vogue, referencing garment industry protests abroad and in America. — Steff Yotka, Vogue, "Batsheva Opens a Pop-Up Dressmaking Heaven in Time for NYFW," 4 Feb. 2019 Since her appointment as Dior's first female creative director, Maria Grazia Chiuri has delved into the worlds of ballet, 1960s protests, and even rodeos for inspiration on the runway. — Lauren Alexis Fisher, Harper's BAZAAR, "Dior Had Live Acrobats Perform on Its Couture Runway," 22 Jan. 2019 That’s led some observers to question whether Facebook’s role in the protests is overstated. — Casey Newton, The Verge, "Facebook’s role in the French protests has polarized observers," 11 Dec. 2018 Eventually, the public protest against asbestos use was overwhelming. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "What Is Asbestos, And Why Did We Use It So Much?," 7 Aug. 2018 Up to 200,000 people are expected to take to the streets in protests planned to run Thursday through Sunday, mostly in central London. — Casey Quackenbush, Time, "U.S. Embassy Warns Americans to 'Keep a Low Profile' in London During President Trump's Visit," 11 July 2018 Hamas has been leading weekly protests along the Israeli perimeter fence for the past year in hopes of easing the blockade, but the demonstrations, in which some 190 people have been killed by Israeli fire, have had little effect. — Isabel Debre, The Seattle Times, "Israel bombs targets in Gaza as rocket fire resumes," 27 Mar. 2019 Hamas, the militant group that runs the Gaza Strip, faces tensions at home over a deteriorating economy that triggered recent protests. — Felicia Schwartz And Dov Lieber, WSJ, "Political Dynamics Raise Risk for Israel-Hamas Clash," 26 Mar. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Since the first 300,000-strong protest on November 17, the movement of blue collar workers has been protesting every Saturday in cities and on highway roundabouts around the country. — Meredith Carey, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and More Closed Saturday Ahead of Paris’s ‘Yellow Vest’ Protests," 7 Dec. 2018 Adam likely had something to do with it—after giving viewers a piece of his mind and protesting DeAndre’s place in the competition, Adam took to Twitter to garner as many votes as possible for his teammate. — Alisa Wolfson, Country Living, "‘The Voice’ Coach Adam Levine Once Told DeAndre Nico His Song Pick Was 'Trash'," 3 Dec. 2018 According to Sports Illustrated, this policy could result in lost wages for players who kneel, as protesting could lead to fines or suspensions from their team. — Mckenna Moore, Fortune, "NFL Players Association Challenges League Policy on Kneeling During National Anthem," 10 July 2018 Shane Ryan Sealy, 34, was counter-protesting at an immigration rally at Big Spring Park in Huntsville. — Ashley May, USA TODAY, "Man holding gun arrested at 'Families Belong Together' rally in Alabama after shouting 'womp, womp'," 2 July 2018 Earlier in the day, hundreds of demonstrators marched to San Diego's Otay Mesa Detention Center to protest the Trump administration's immigration policies. — Fox News, "Gunman dead after 2 cops shot in San Diego standoff; 1 officer reported clinging to life," 2 Oct. 2018 About 1,000 people protesting Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh — including more than 100 Yale Law School students — were arrested by Capitol Hill police on Monday morning, according to organizers. — Ella Nilsen, Vox, "Progressive activists think they have a shot at stopping Brett Kavanaugh," 25 Sep. 2018 Hundreds of people gathered in First Ward Park on Saturday to protest the Trump administration's immigration policies that have led to the separation of thousands of children from their families at the southern U.S. border. — Lavendrick Smith, charlotteobserver, "'Ready for action': Charlotte protesters join effort against immigration policies," 30 June 2018 Over a thousand Google employees signed a letter protesting Dragonfly in August. — Adi Robertson, The Verge, "Google employees push to cancel Chinese search engine in new letter," 27 Nov. 2018

These 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.

History and Etymology for protest

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

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Dictionary Entries near protest

Statistics for protest

Last Updated

17 Apr 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for protest

The first known use of protest was in the 15th century

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More Definitions for protest

protest

noun

English 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

verb

English 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

verb

pro·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

noun

pro·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

noun

pro·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