Rally Meaning
/ˈɹæli/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA public gathering or mass meeting that is not mainly a protest and is organized to inspire enthusiasm for a cause.
nounA protest or demonstration for or against something, but often with speeches and often without marching, especially in North America.
Sentence Examples
When is the pep rally?
I'm going to a monster truck rally.
Do you really want to go to the pep rally?
CEFR Practice Quiz
Thousands of people attended the ____ to show their support for the cause.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The opposition party organized a large ____ in the capital to protest the proposed legislation.
Word Origin & History
From Middle French rallier (French rallier), from Old French ralier, from Latin prefix re- + ad + ligare (“to bind; to ally”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The EDL said Saturday’s rally was aimed at highlighting what it describes as a “continued increase in Islamic terrorism” linked to Birmingham."
— 2017 April 8, Nicola Slawson, “Birmingham mosque counters EDL rally with ‘best of British’ tea party”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 06 Jul 2019:
"Mortenson, who asked to use a pseudonym for this story, says she has been attending rallies and vigils in her home state to regain her optimism, but she’s finding it tough."
— 2025 March 3, Nico Lang, ““Simply Trying to Exist”: How Trans Americans Are Navigating the Confusion and Chaos of Trump’s Passport Policy”, in Them, archived from the original on 13 Mar 2025:
"Innumerable parts of matter chanced just then to rally together, and to form themselves into this new world."
— 1664, John Tillotson, “Sermon I. The Wisdom of Being Religious. Job XXVIII. 28.”, in The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury: […], London: […] B. Aylmer, […]; [a]nd W. Rogers, […], published 1696, →OCLC:
"The Grecians rally, and their powers unite."
— 1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
"The USA were dominant but, to England’s immense credit, they repeatedly rallied, refusing to fold. Indeed they could conceivably have gone in level at the interval had Naeher not made an acrobatic, stretching, fingertip save to divert Walsh’s 25-yard thunderbolt as it whizzed unerringly on its apparently inexorable trajectory towards the top corner."
— 2019 July 2, Louise Taylor, “Alex Morgan heads USA past England into Women’s World Cup final”, in The Guardian:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Thousands of people attended the ____ to show their support for the cause.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The opposition party organized a large ____ in the capital to protest the proposed legislation.