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verb Common

revolt

rih-VOHLT

Revolt (verb) means to rise up in rebellion against authority. Example: “The colonies eventually revolted against their rulers.”

verb
1
To rise up in rebellion against authority.
"The colonies eventually revolted against their rulers."
2
To cause strong disgust in someone.
"The smell from the bins revolted her."
noun
1
An uprising or act of rebellion.
"The peasant revolt spread quickly through the countryside."

How to Use Revolt

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither to rebel against authority, or to disgust someone.

Common pairings
revolt against peasant revolt crush a revolt

Word Forms

revolted past tense, revolt plural, revolted plural, revolts plural, revolts singular, revolt singular, revolted singular, revoltest singular, revoltedst singular, revolteth singular

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Test yourself on “revolt” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The colonies eventually _____ against their rulers.

Etymology

Borrowed from French révolter, from Italian rivoltare, related to Latin revolvere, "to roll back".

Origin: Latin

Related Words

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “revolt” mean?

The word “revolt” means to rise up in rebellion against authority. In plain terms, either to rebel against authority, or to disgust someone.

How do you pronounce “revolt”?

“Revolt” is pronounced rih-VOHLT (/ɹɪˈvoʊlt/ in IPA).

How do you use “revolt” in a sentence?

Here is “revolt” used in a sentence: “The colonies eventually revolted against their rulers.”

What part of speech is “revolt”?

Depending on how it is used, “revolt” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “revolt” come from?

The word “revolt” comes from Latin. Borrowed from French révolter, from Italian rivoltare, related to Latin revolvere, "to roll back".

Is “revolt” a common word?

“Revolt” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “revolt” have?

“Revolt” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to rise up in rebellion against authority.

What is the difference between revolt and rebellion?

Revolt and rebellion both describe rising up against authority, and are close synonyms, though revolt often suggests a sudden, forceful uprising while rebellion can describe a more sustained or organized resistance movement. Both can be used as nouns for the uprising itself.

Can revolt mean to disgust someone?

Yes, revolt has a second meaning: to cause strong disgust in someone, as in "the smell revolted her." This sense is unrelated to rebellion and instead describes a strong negative reaction of repulsion.

What is the difference between revolt and riot?

Revolt refers to rising up in rebellion against authority, often with a specific political or organized goal, while a riot describes violent, disorderly public behaviour that may or may not target authority directly. A revolt is typically more focused and purposeful than a riot.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial