noun , verb
■ noun
/ ˈprəʊtest; NAmE ˈproʊ-/ [ U , C ] protest (against sth) the expression of strong disagreement with or opposition to sth; a statement or an action that shows this :
The director resigned in protest at the decision.
The announcement raised a storm of protest .
a protest march
She accepted the charge without protest .
The workers staged a protest against the proposed changes in their contracts.
The building work will go ahead, despite protests from local residents.
The riot began as a peaceful protest.
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IDIOMS
- under protest
■ verb / prəˈtest; NAmE also ˈproʊ-/
1.
protest (about / against / at sth) to say or do sth to show that you disagree with or disapprove of sth, especially publicly :
[ v ]
Students took to the streets to protest against the decision.
The victim's widow protested at the leniency of the sentence.
There's no use protesting, I won't change my mind.
[ vn ] ( NAmE )
They fully intend to protest the decision.
➡ note at complain
2.
to say firmly that sth is true, especially when you have been accused of sth or when other people do not believe you :
[ vn ]
She has always protested her innocence .
[ v that ]
He protested that the journey was too far by car.
[ v speech ]
'That's not what you said earlier!' Jane protested.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (as a verb in the sense make a solemn declaration ): from Old French protester , from Latin protestari , from pro- forth, publicly + testari assert (from testis witness).