INDEX:
1. to show publicly that you disagree with something
2. ways of protesting about something
3. someone who takes part in a public protest
RELATED WORDS
: ↑ DISAGREE , ↑ COMPLAIN , ↑ AGAINST/OPPOSE , ↑ VIOLENT , ↑ SUPPORT , ↑ GOVERNMENT , ↑ REBELLION/REVOLUTION , ↑ ENVIRONMENT
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1. to show publicly that you disagree with something
▷ protest /prəˈtest/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
if people protest about something, they show that they think it is wrong or unfair, for example by holding public meetings or writing letters to politicians :
▪ When the army took power, huge crowds gathered in the capital to protest.
protest about/against
▪ Prisoners had climbed onto the roof to protest about conditions in the jail.
protest something
American
▪ a huge crowd of students protesting the globalization of trade
▷ demonstrate /ˈdemənstreɪt/ [intransitive verb]
to protest about something in an organized way, by having a large outdoor meeting or by marching through the streets :
▪ Thousands of people demonstrated outside the parliament building last night.
demonstrate against
▪ Thousands of workers and students demonstrated against US involvement in the war.
▷ march /mɑːʳtʃ/ [intransitive verb]
to walk with a large group of people from one place to another, in order to show that you do not agree with something :
march through/to etc
▪ Over ten thousand workers marched through the capital demanding higher wages.
march on
▪ Several thousand people marched on the French embassy.
▷ boycott /ˈbɔɪkɒtǁ-kɑːt/ [transitive verb]
to not buy something, not go somewhere, or not take part in an event, in order to protest about the actions of a country or company :
▪ Students have threatened to boycott certain banks as a protest at their investment policies.
▪ Several countries have said they may boycott next year’s Olympic Games.
▷ riot /ˈraɪət/ [intransitive verb]
if a large group of people riot, they protest about something by fighting the police, damaging public buildings, or setting fire to things :
▪ Prisoners in several jails have rioted in protest at their appalling conditions.
▪ Gangs of youths rioted for two nights on the streets of the capital.
rioting [uncountable noun]
▪ Five days of rioting followed the police shooting of student leaders.
2. ways of protesting about something
▷ protest /ˈprəʊtest/ [countable/uncountable noun]
▪ The school has received over 3,000 letters of protest.
▪ The protest begun by Soweto children rapidly spread throughout the country.
mass protest
a protest by a lot of people
▪ Over fifteen thousand people held a mass protest against racism in the country’s capital.
storm of protest
a lot of angry protest
▪ The shooting provoked a storm of protest.
in protest at/against
▪ Prisoners have been holding hunger strikes in protest against their living conditions.
▪ Public employees have threatened mass resignations in protest at the plans.
▷ demonstration also demo British /ˌdemənˈstreɪʃ ə n, ˈdeməʊ/ [countable noun]
when a large number of people come together to protest about something, by having an outdoor meeting or marching through the streets :
▪ The police had to break up yesterday’s animal rights demonstration.
▪ Some of the marchers called to us to come and join the demo.
demonstration against
▪ Over 3,000 people took part in a demonstration against the dumping of nuclear waste at sea.
▷ march /mɑːʳtʃ/ [countable noun]
when a large group of people walk in an organized way from one place to another in order to protest about something :
▪ Thousands of students took part in the march.
protest march
▪ Local trade union leaders joined in the protest march against cuts in government spending.
▷ boycott /ˈbɔɪkɒtǁ-kɑːt/ [countable noun]
when people protest against the actions of a country or company, for example by not buying its products, not attending its events etc :
boycott of
▪ Farmers are calling for a boycott of all imported meat.
▪ a boycott of the peace talks
▷ riot /ˈraɪət/ [countable noun]
violent and illegal behaviour by a large group of people in order to protest against something that they think is unfair and that has made them very angry :
▪ Altogether the riots cost 130 lives and well over $700 million in property damage.
▪ Racial tension boiled over in the inner city riots which spread across the nation last week.
▷ sit-in /ˈsɪt ɪn/ [countable noun]
when people refuse to leave the place where they work or study until they are given the things they are asking for :
▪ Workers at the factory organized a sit-in to draw attention to their grievances.
3. someone who takes part in a public protest
▷ protester /prəˈtestəʳ/ [countable noun usually plural]
someone who protests about something with other people :
▪ Thousands of protesters took to the streets to show their anger at the government.
▷ demonstrator /ˈdemənstreɪtəʳ/ [countable noun usually plural]
someone who takes part in an organized event, such as a march or an outdoor meeting, to protest about something :
▪ Thirteen demonstrators were killed when soldiers opened fire on the crowd.
▷ marcher /ˈmɑːʳtʃəʳ/ [countable noun]
someone who takes part in an organized walk through an area in order to protest against something :
▪ The Rev. Jesse Jackson led 1000 marchers through downtown Detroit to protest state welfare cuts.