rebel
Rebel (noun) means a person who fights against or refuses to obey an established authority. Example: “The rebels seized control of the capital overnight.”
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.
Note the stress shift: the noun is REB-el, the verb is re-BEL.
Word forms
rebelled past tense, rebels plural, Rebels plural, Rebels plural, rebels singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ seized control of the capital overnight.
Etymology
From Old French rebelle, from Latin rebellis ("waging war again"), from re- ("again") plus bellum ("war").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for rebel
See all rhymes for rebel →Frequently asked questions
What does “rebel” mean?
The word “rebel” means a person who fights against or refuses to obey an established authority. In plain terms, someone who fights or resists authority, or (as a verb) the act of resisting rules, expectations, or a government.
How do you pronounce “rebel”?
“Rebel” is pronounced REHB-uhl (/ˈɹɛb.əl/ in IPA).
How do you use “rebel” in a sentence?
Here is “rebel” used in a sentence: “The rebels seized control of the capital overnight.”
What is another word for “rebel”?
Words with a similar meaning to “rebel” include defy.
What is the opposite of “rebel”?
The opposite of “rebel” — its antonyms — are obey and submit.
What part of speech is “rebel”?
Depending on how it is used, “rebel” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “rebel” come from?
The word “rebel” comes from Latin. From Old French rebelle, from Latin rebellis ("waging war again"), from re- ("again") plus bellum ("war").
Is “rebel” a common word?
“Rebel” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
Does the stress in rebel change between the noun and the verb?
Yes. The noun rebel is stressed on the first syllable (REB-el), while the verb rebel is stressed on the second (ri-BEL). The same noun-verb stress shift appears in pairs like record, permit, and protest.
What preposition do you use with rebel?
The verb rebel takes against: people rebel against authority, rules, or convention. "Rebel against" is by far the standard collocation in modern English.
What is the difference between a rebel and a revolutionary?
A rebel is anyone who fights against or refuses to obey an established authority, from an armed fighter to a teenager defying convention. A revolutionary aims specifically to overthrow a system, usually a government, and replace it with a new one, so the word implies a programme of change rather than resistance alone.
What is the difference between rebel and rebellious?
Rebel is the noun and the verb: a rebel resists authority, and to rebel is to resist or refuse to obey it. Rebellious is the adjective, describing people or behaviour inclined to rebel, as in "a rebellious streak" or "rebellious teenagers."
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