Protest Meaning
/ˈpɹəʊ.tɛst/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo make a strong objection.
verbTo affirm (something).
Sentence Examples
Activists are stepping up their protest drive.
Ever louder voices of protest drowned out his speech.
The proposal would spark a storm of protest around the country.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Thousands of citizens gathered in the square to ____ against the new tax law.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Thousands gathered in the capital to ____ against the government's proposed austerity measures.
Word Origin & History
PIE word *tréyes From the Middle English verb protesten, from Old French protester, from Latin prōtestārī, from prō + testor, from testis (“witness”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"As a political system democracy seems to me extraordinarily foolish, but I would not go out of my way to protest against it. My servant is, so far as I am concerned, welcome to as many votes as he can get. I would very gladly make mine over to him if I could."
— 1915, G[eorge] A. Birmingham [pseudonym; James Owen Hannay], chapter I, in Gossamer, New York, N.Y.: George H. Doran Company, →OCLC:
"U.S. and European protested against Spanish conduct in Cuba."
— 2009, Cuba:
"On November 29 1952, a special train ran from Sunderland to Leeds for Christmas shoppers and those attending a Leeds vs. Brentford match. It caused controversy, with Sunderland traders protesting that their shops were just as good as those in Leeds."
— 2023 December 27, David Turner, “Silent lines...”, in RAIL, number 999, page 29:
"I will protest your cowardice."
— 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
"Our youth, now, emboldened with his success, resolved to push the matter farther, and ventured even to beg her recommendation of him to her father's service; protesting that he thought him one of the honestest fellows in the country, and extremely well qualified for the place of a gamekeeper, which luckily then happened to be vacant."
— 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
Thousands of citizens gathered in the square to ____ against the new tax law.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Thousands gathered in the capital to ____ against the government's proposed austerity measures.