noun
rebel
REHB-uhl
noun
1
A person who fights against or refuses to obey an established authority.
"The rebels seized control of the capital overnight."
verb
1
To resist or refuse to obey authority, rules, or convention.
"She rebelled against her parents' strict curfew."
"The colonies rebelled against the crown's taxes."
How to Use Rebel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who fights or resists authority, or (as a verb) the act of resisting rules, expectations, or a government.
When to use it
Note the stress shift: the noun is REB-el, the verb is re-BEL.
Common pairings
rebel against
teenage rebel
rebel forces
Word Forms
rebelled past tense, rebels plural, Rebels plural, Rebels plural, rebels singular
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The _____ seized control of the capital overnight.
Etymology
From Old French rebelle, from Latin rebellis ("waging war again"), from re- ("again") plus bellum ("war").