uprising

noun

up·​ris·​ing ˈəp-ˌrī-ziŋ 

: an act or instance of rising up

especially : a usually localized act of popular violence in defiance usually of an established government

Synonyms of uprising

• revolt
• insurrection
• rebellion
• mutiny

Choose the Right Synonym for uprising

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 uprising in a Sentence

The government quickly put down the uprising.

the uprising was quickly and brutally suppressed

Recent Examples on the Web

The remote island, known for its white sand beaches, exotic flora and sand dunes, has been largely unscathed by the war in Yemen, which began after a popular uprising in 2011 forced out the country's authoritarian president, Ali Abdullah Saleh. —Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026

The spark of the uprising and bazaar strikes has been economic hardship and government mismanagement. —Kamran Talattof, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026

Caracas erupted in protests in February 1989 and the government sent the military to crush the uprising. —James Trapani, Fortune, 6 Jan. 2026

The United States could be on its 49th president by then, and Venezuela would need to remake its government as a democracy and resist potential uprisings. —David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for uprising

• advising
• apprising
• arising
• baptizing
• capsizing
• chastising
• comprising
• despising
• devising
• disguising
• downsizing
• excising

Kids Definition

uprising

noun

up·​ris·​ing ˈəp-ˌrī-ziŋ 

: an act or instance of rising up