revolt

verb re·volt \ ri-ˈvōlt also -ˈvȯlt \

Updated on: 15 Apr 2018

Definition of revolt

intransitive verb

1 : to renounce allegiance or subjection (as to a government) : rebel

2 a : to experience disgust or shock

b : to turn away with disgust

transitive verb

: to cause to turn away or shrink with disgust or abhorrence

—

revolter

noun

See revolt defined for English-language learners

See revolt defined for kids

Examples of revolt in a Sentence

The group threatened to revolt.
All the violence revolted me.

Recent Examples of revolt from the Web

Arizona is following West Virginia and Oklahoma, where teachers have publicly revolted over the low pay that ranks them among the worst compensated in the nation and years of cuts to education funding following the recession.

— lily altavena, azcentral, "Arizona teachers plan walkout; date to be announced," 10 Apr. 2018
The act of reveling in or revolting against the absence of Mr. Giamatti or the inclusion of Mr. Allen.

— New York Times, "The Politics of Waxing," 26 Mar. 2018
When the popular principal of Clatskanie Elementary School lost his job, the community revolted.

— samantha swindler, OregonLive.com, "When a popular principal lost his job, Clatskanie residents revolted (Commentary)," 25 Mar. 2018
Others dream, seemingly forlornly, that the party will revolt.

— The Economist, "Tanzania’s rogue president," 15 Mar. 2018
Already House conservatives seem poised to revolt against the bill, railing against the high spending numbers and lack of right-wing policy priorities — meaning the final package will have attract more Democratic votes.

— tara golshan, Vox, "Congress is coming down to the wire on keeping the government open," 22 Mar. 2018
But faced with the prospect of trying more than a dozen versions—some with the strange consistency of Pepto-Bismol, if not the taste as well—the tongue wants to revolt.

— charles passy, WSJ, "Please Don’t Make Me Eat Another Bite of This Delicious Chocolate," 15 Mar. 2018
From mourning to revolt Tens of thousands of people have protested Franco’s death in cities across the country, as well as in New York City, Paris, Berlin and elsewhere.

— suyin haynes, Time, "The Assassination of Brazilian Politician Marielle Franco Turned Her Into a Global Icon," 14 Mar. 2018
Former contestants dragged him on social media, Bachelor Nation basically revolted, and a Minnesota rep. even introduced a bill to ban Luyendyk from the state.

— eileen reslen, Cosmopolitan, "16 of the Worst Douchebro Moments in 'Bachelor' History," 10 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'revolt.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

revolution and revolt

Revolution and revolt have a shared origin, both ultimately going back to the Latin revolvere “to revolve, roll back.” When revolution first appeared in English in the 14th century, it referred to the movement of a celestial body in orbit; that sense was extended to “a progressive motion of a body around an axis,” “completion of a course,” and other senses suggesting regularity of motion or a predictable return to an original position. At virtually the same time, the word developed a sharply different meaning, namely, ”a sudden radical, or complete change,” apparently from the idea of reversal of direction implicit in the Latin verb. Revolt , which initially meant “to renounce allegiance,” grew from the same idea of “rolling back,” in this case from a prior bond of loyalty.

Origin and Etymology of revolt

Middle French revolter, from Old Italian rivoltare to overthrow, from Vulgar Latin *revolvitare, frequentative of Latin revolvere to revolve, roll back

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1539

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

revolt Synonyms

Phrases

turn one's stomach;

revolt

noun

Definition of revolt

1 : a renouncing of allegiance (as to a government or party); especially : a determined armed uprising

2 : a movement or expression of vigorous dissent

See revolt defined for English-language learners

Examples of revolt in a Sentence

the revolt of the slaves
The peasants' revolt was crushed by the king.
The leader of the group called for revolt.
Consumers are in revolt against high prices.

Recent Examples of revolt from the Web

Quiet intraparty revolts during congressional leadership races are not uncommon, though.

— jay willis, GQ, "Who Will Be Paul Ryan's Successor?," 12 Apr. 2018
The Ravens have been trying to quell a fan revolt that grew out of the NFL’s national anthem controversy.

— peter schmuck, baltimoresun.com, "Schmuck: Orioles' record low in attendance Monday the result of a perfect storm," 10 Apr. 2018
But then the unthinkable happened: Eleanor rose in open revolt against her husband.

— anne thériault, Longreads, "Queens of Infamy: Eleanor of Aquitaine," 4 Apr. 2018
What happens when the teachers are fed up Angry teachers are in revolt around the country.

— USA TODAY, "The nation witnesses its latest rebellion," 2 Apr. 2018
The 1972 cult classic about an animal revolt in a swampy Southern bayou makes a rare appearance at the Capitol Theatre -- 7 p.m. Wednesday.

— john petkovic, cleveland.com, "Killer frogs and the crazy rise of animal rebellion eco-horror movies (photos)," 30 Mar. 2018
While Canada prides itself on embracing immigrants, the group has resonated with a small but vocal minority in Quebec, where a strong tradition of secularism was ingrained during a revolt against the Roman Catholic Church in the 1960s.

— dan bilefsky, New York Times, "Quebec City Mosque Gunman Pleads Guilty to Murder," 28 Mar. 2018
Almost all traces of the popular revolt that overthrew longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak in 2011 are now gone.

— brian rohan, Fox News, "Portraits of Egypt's leader fill iconic Cairo Square," 25 Mar. 2018
Women in at least 34 countries will march on Sunday, many of them impatient to see the American depth and scale of female revolt in their homelands.

— fernando ramirez, Houston Chronicle, "The most popular Trump tweets during his first year in office," 19 Jan. 2018

First Known Use of revolt

1560

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

revolt Synonyms

Synonyms

insurgence, insurgency, insurrection, mutiny, outbreak, rebellion, revolution, rising, uprising;

Near Antonyms

counterinsurgency, counterrevolution;

sedition, treachery, treason;

subversion;

Synonym Discussion of revolt

rebellion, revolution, uprising, revolt, insurrection, mutiny mean an outbreak against authority. rebellion implies an open formidable resistance that is often unsuccessful.

- open rebellion against the officers

revolution applies to a successful rebellion resulting in a major change (as in government).

- a political revolution that toppled the monarchy

uprising implies a brief, limited, and often immediately ineffective rebellion.

- quickly put down the uprising

revolt and insurrection imply an armed uprising that quickly fails or succeeds.

- a revolt by the Young Turks that surprised party leaders
- an insurrection of oppressed laborers

mutiny applies to group insubordination or insurrection especially against naval authority.

- a mutiny led by the ship's cook

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

REVOLT Defined for English Language Learners

revolt

verb

Definition of revolt for English Language Learners

: to fight in a violent way against the rule of a leader or government
: to act in a way that shows that you do not accept the control or influence of someone or something
: to cause (someone) to feel disgust or shock

revolt

noun

Definition of revolt for English Language Learners

: violent action against a ruler or government
: something which shows that you will not accept something or will not agree to be controlled or influenced by someone or something

REVOLT Defined for Kids

revolt

verb re·volt \ ri-ˈvōlt \

Definition of revolt for Students

revolted; revolting

1 : to rebel against a ruler or government

2 : to be or cause to be disgusted or shocked

I was revolted by the smell.

revolt

noun

Definition of revolt for Students

: violent action against a ruler or government : rebellion

Learn More about revolt

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

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revolt

Definition of revolt

revolter

Examples of revolt in a Sentence

Recent Examples of revolt from the Web

revolution and revolt

Origin and Etymology of revolt

revolt Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases

revolt

Definition of revolt

Examples of revolt in a Sentence

Recent Examples of revolt from the Web

First Known Use of revolt

revolt Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Synonym Discussion of revolt

Other Government and Politics Terms

Phrases Related to REVOLT

Related Phrases

REVOLT Defined for English Language Learners

revolt

Definition of revolt for English Language Learners

revolt

Definition of revolt for English Language Learners

REVOLT Defined for Kids

revolt

Definition of revolt for Students

revolt

Definition of revolt for Students

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