protest

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noun pro·test \ ˈprō-ˌtest \

Definition of protest

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

See protest defined for English-language learners

See protest defined for kids

Examples of protest in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of protest from the Web

The Black Youth Project 100, a group of social justice activists ages 18 to 35, staged the protests at the statute in New York.

— the washington post, AL.com, "Statue of Alabama surgeon who experimented on slaves vandalized," 29 Aug. 2017
Their textbooks about slavery and the Civil War prompted protests from black families and community leaders.

— matt ford, The Atlantic, "What Trump's Generation Learned About the Civil War," 28 Aug. 2017
In Kingston’s leafy City Park, which includes a cricket ground, a statue of Macdonald, who led Canada from 1867 to 1873 and then again from 1878 until his death in 1891, has become a center of celebrations and protests.

— ian austen, New York Times, "Canada, Too, Faces a Reckoning With History and Racism," 28 Aug. 2017
Deandre Harris, 19, survived a brutal beating from white supremacists in a parking garage in Charlottesville during the violent protests earlier this month.

— steve beynon, Cincinnati.com, "Ex-Mason High School student charged in Charlottesville beating," 26 Aug. 2017
GOP elected officials have been unusually willing to put some distance between themselves and Trump on the validity of protests to defend Confederate and neo-Confederate symbols.

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump’s Anti-Anti-Racism Appeals to His Base’s White Racial Grievance," 25 Aug. 2017
In recent weeks the U.S. has slapped a raft of sanctions on Venezuelan officials, including Maduro, as the socialist government moved to consolidate power amid months of bloody protests and a crippling recession.

— ben bartenstein, Bloomberg.com, "Venezuelan Bonds Decline on Speculation the U.S. Will Ban Trading," 23 Aug. 2017
In the last few weeks, protests across the nation have descended into street battles shrouded in tear gas and scored by sirens and slurs.

— matt ormseth, courant.com, "During Angry Rally, A New Haven Woman Finds Courage," 23 Aug. 2017
In addition, over the weekend, the conductor was involved in securing the release of violist Wuilly Arteaga, who was beaten and detained after performing at an anti-government protest in July.

— brittany martin, Los Angeles Magazine, "Venezuela’s President Has Blocked Gustavo Dudamel’s Youth Orchestra from Playing in the U.S.," 22 Aug. 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of protest

Middle English, from protester

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

protest Synonyms

protest

play

verb pro·test \ prə-ˈtest , ˈprō-ˌ , prō-ˈ \

Definition of protest

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

or protestor play \-ˈtes-tər, -ˌtes-\ noun

See protest defined for English-language learners

Examples of protest in a Sentence

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 of protest from the Web

During his long stay in the U.S. in the 1960s and 1970s, Yazdi established the biggest Muslim association in the country in Houston and earned a reputation for protesting the Shah in various states.

— Washington Post, "Hundreds attend funeral of Iranian dissident politician," 31 Aug. 2017
The frontier appeared united in protesting the tax or protecting those who did.

— carrie hagen, Smithsonian, "The First Presidential Pardon Pitted Alexander Hamilton Against George Washington," 29 Aug. 2017
Follow through with your plan consistently each evening, even if your children protest and test you at first.

— kathy r. byrnes, Cincinnati.com, "Providing rest for sleepy children," 28 Aug. 2017
Back in 2012, when the Modern Family cast were planning a sickout to protest a salary dispute with 20th Century Fox, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who plays Mitchell on the show, called LeBlanc for some advice.

— emma stefansky, HWD, "Matt LeBlanc Almost Starred in Modern Family," 20 Aug. 2017
Heather Heyer died and 19 others were injured when an alleged white supremacist plowed his car into a crowd of people protesting the Unite the Right demonstration last Saturday.

— jeff mcdonald, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Faith leaders across San Diego challenge racism, bigotry in multi-denominational call to action," 18 Aug. 2017
The president has drawn bipartisan criticism for his response to violence in Virginia last weekend involving white supremacists protesting the removal of a Confederate monument.

— hunter woodall, kansascity, "At Topeka town hall, Moran talks Trump after tumultuous week for the White House," 18 Aug. 2017
The counter-protesters who showed up to stand up to the Nazis who marched on Charlottesville are heroes. Don’t listen to anyone who tells you that protesting hate is the same as spreading it.

— lilly dancyger, Glamour, "This Video of Protests in Durham Shows Why We Can Beat the Hate," 18 Aug. 2017
Those assembled at the rally included white supremacist, white nationalist, neo-Confederate, neo-Nazi and militia movements that protested against the removal of Confederate monuments and memorials from public spaces.

— sergio carmona, Jewish Journal, "South Florida Jewish leaders condemn violence in Virginia," 17 Aug. 2017

Origin and Etymology of protest

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

protest Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

deny, gainsay

Related Words

announce, broadcast, proclaim; argue, rationalize, reason; confirm, justify, vindicate; defend, persevere, support, uphold; reaffirm, reassert

Near Antonyms

abandon; disavow, disclaim, disown, negate, negative, reject, repudiate; challenge, dispute, question; confute, disprove, rebut, refute; contradict, counter

Synonym Discussion of 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

PROTEST Defined for English Language Learners

protest

play

noun

Definition of protest for English Language Learners

: 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

play

verb

Definition of protest for English Language Learners

: to show or express strong disagreement with or disapproval of something ( US )
: to show or express strong disapproval of something at a public event with other people ( US )
: to say (something that other people do not agree with or believe) in a forceful way

PROTEST Defined for Kids

protest

play

verb pro·test \ prə-ˈtest \

Definition of protest for Students

protested; protesting

1 :to complain strongly about :object to

Fans protested the umpire's decision.

2 :to declare positively :assert

He protested his innocence.

—

protester

\prə-ˈte-stər, ˈprō-ˌte-stər\ noun

protest

play

noun pro·test \ ˈprō-ˌtest \

Definition of protest for Students

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

Medical Dictionary

protest

medical Definition of protest

— see masculine protest

Law Dictionary

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

—

protest

verb

— under protest

:with noted objections (as of insufficient payment) and claims

cashed a check under protest

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See words that rhyme with protest Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for protest Spanish Central: Translation of protest Nglish: Translation of protest for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of protest for Arabic speakers

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protest

Definition of protest

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Examples of protest in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of protest

protest Synonyms

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protest

Definition of protest

protester

Examples of protest in a Sentence

Recent Examples of protest from the Web

Origin and Etymology of protest

protest Synonyms

Synonyms

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Synonym Discussion of protest

Phrases Related to PROTEST

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PROTEST Defined for English Language Learners

protest

Definition of protest for English Language Learners

protest

Definition of protest for English Language Learners

PROTEST Defined for Kids

protest

Definition of protest for Students

protester

protest

Definition of protest for Students

Medical Dictionary

protest

medical Definition of protest

Law Dictionary

protest

legal Definition of protest

protest

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