revolt

1 of 2

verb

re·​volt ri-ˈvōlt 

 also  -ˈvȯlt

revolted; revolting; revolts

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

revolt

2 of 2

noun

1

: a renouncing of allegiance (as to a government or party)

especially : a determined armed uprising

2

: a movement or expression of vigorous dissent

Did you know?

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.

Synonyms

Verb

• disgust
• repulse
• sicken
• appal

Noun

• insurrection
• uprising
• mutiny
• rebellion

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of revolt in a Sentence

Verb

The group threatened to revolt.

All the violence revolted me.

Noun

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 on the Web

Verb

Ironic from a country born out of revolting against taxation without representation. —Jose Antonio Vargas, Time, 4 July 2025

Coming at an incredibly sensitive time and with some employees revolting over its coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict, the last thing the corporation’s bosses need is to be accused of platforming bands accused of terrorist sympathy. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 25 June 2025

Noun

The succession of scandals crescendoes to cause internal revolt. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 4 July 2025

During the English Civil War in 1642, the medieval crown jewels were destroyed as a symbol of revolt against the monarchy. —Madison Dapcevich, Discover Magazine, 30 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

borrowed from Middle French revolter, as reflexive se revolter "to turn about, change sides, turn away (from a belief, adherence), rebel," borrowed from Italian revoltare, revottare (later rivoltare) "to turn over, turn inside out, cause to rebel, disgust," from re- re- + voltare "to turn," going back to Vulgar Latin *volvitāre, iterative of Latin volvere "to set in a circular course, cause to roll, bring round" — more at wallow entry 1

Noun

borrowed from Middle French revolte, noun derivative of revolter, as reflexive se revolter "to turn about, change sides, turn away (from a belief, adherence), rebel" — more at revolt entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1539, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing revolt

• rise (up) in revolt
• stage a revolt

Rhymes for revolt

• landolt
• raoult
• bolt
• boult
• colt
• jolt
• molt
• moult
• poult
• smolt
• volt
• volte

Kids Definition

revolt

1 of 2 verb

re·​volt ri-ˈvōlt 

1

: to rise up against the authority of a ruler or government

2

: to feel or cause to feel disgust or shock

revolter noun

revolt

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act or instance of revolting

2

: an open and often violent rising up against authority