protest
Americannoun
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an expression or declaration of objection, disapproval, or dissent, often in opposition to something a person is powerless to prevent or avoid.
a protest against increased taxation.
- Antonyms:
- approval
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Commerce.
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a formal notarial certificate attesting the fact that a check, note, or bill of exchange has been presented for acceptance or payment and that it has been refused.
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the action taken to fix the liability for a dishonored bill of exchange or note.
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Law.
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(upon one's payment of a tax or other state or city exaction) a formal statement disputing the legality of the demand.
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a written and attested declaration made by the master of a ship stating the circumstances under which some damage has happened to the ship or cargo, or other circumstances involving the liability of the officers, crew, etc.
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Sports. a formal objection or complaint made to an official.
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
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to make a protest or remonstrance against; object to.
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to say in protest or remonstrance.
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to declare solemnly or earnestly; affirm; assert.
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to make a formal declaration of the nonacceptance or nonpayment of (a bill of exchange or note).
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Obsolete. to call to witness.
noun
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public, often organized, dissent or manifestation of such dissent
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( as modifier )
a protest march
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a declaration or objection that is formal or solemn
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an expression of disagreement or complaint
without a squeak of protest
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a formal notarial statement drawn up on behalf of a creditor and declaring that the debtor has dishonoured a bill of exchange or promissory note
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the action of drawing up such a statement
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a formal declaration by a taxpayer disputing the legality or accuracy of his assessment
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a statement made by the master of a vessel attesting to the circumstances in which his vessel was damaged or imperilled
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the act of protesting
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having voiced objections; unwillingly
verb
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to make a strong objection (to something, esp a supposed injustice or offence)
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(when tr, may take a clause as object) to assert or affirm in a formal or solemn manner
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(when tr, may take a clause as object) to put up arguments against; disagree; complain; object
``I'm okay,'' she protested
he protested that it was not his turn to wash up
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(tr) to object forcefully to
leaflets protesting Dr King's murder
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(tr) to declare formally that (a bill of exchange or promissory note) has been dishonoured
Usage
What does protest mean? Protest most commonly means a public show of disapproval of or opposition to something. Protests are often held against things like a nation’s involvement in a war or specific government policies or forms of injustice. A close synonym is demonstration. Such protests are often held in public spaces by people who want to display their disapproval openly in order to bring awareness to their cause and put pressure on authorities to make changes. A person who participates in a protest can be called a protester or a protestor. (The -er spelling is much more common, but the -or spelling has increased in usage.)Protest is often used as a verb meaning to participate in a protest. It can also be used as a verb in a more general way meaning to show disapproval or disagreement, as in My kids always protest when I try to serve them vegetables, but they end up eating them. Sometimes, protest might refer to an official complaint or objection, as in They lodged an official protest. This sense can also be used as a verb, as in The team protested their loss with the league, claiming unfair treatment by referees. To resign in protest means to quit in a way that’s meant to show disagreement or disapproval of something that’s happened. To do something under protest means to do it unwillingly or with strong objections. Example: The colonists protested the increased taxes by refusing to pay them.
Synonym Usage
See declare.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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protesternoun
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protestornoun
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reprotestnoun
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reprotestverb
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half-protestedadjective
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half-protestingadjective
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nonprotestingadjective
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protestableadjective
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protestantadjective
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protestiveadjective
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unprotestedadjective
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unprotestingadjective
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protestinglyadverb
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unprotestinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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protestsimple
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protestssimple
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have protestedperfect
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has protestedperfect
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am protestingprogressive
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are protestingprogressive
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is protestingprogressive
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have been protestingperfect progressive
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has been protestingperfect progressive
Past
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protestedsimple
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had protestedperfect
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was protestingprogressive
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were protestingprogressive
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had been protestingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of protest
First recorded in 1350–1400; (for the verb) late Middle English protesten, from Middle French protester, from Latin prōtestārī “to declare publicly,” from prō- pro- 1 + testārī “to testify” (derivative of testis “a witness”); noun derivative of the verb
Explanation
A protest is a formal declaration of objection. If students at your school are fed up with the overly restrictive dress code, they might stage a protest. Washington, D.C. is often the site of political protests. Protest is both a noun and a verb. You've probably seen news about protests, because people all over the world organize them when they need to get a message across urgently. A protest doesn't have to be on the world scale, however. You might protest against eating frozen pizza for the third night in a row, and you've certainly seen a little kid protest against going to bed. When protest is political, it's also known as dissent.
Vocabulary lists containing protest
"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act II
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"The Civil Rights Movement"
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Brown Girl Dreaming
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Glenn participated in a protest organized by Stop the AI Race.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
An announcement repeatedly made on a loudspeakers warned the protesters to "leave now, this protest is over".
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
Hundreds of protesters remained camped at the Jantar Mantar protest site on Tuesday, many of them calling for wider changes in the education system.
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
Japan lodged a diplomatic protest with China, noting the drill “could pose a danger to the navigation of nearby vessels,” Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Minoru Kihara, said on Tuesday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
The mattress springs protest as I slide out of bed, but Helena doesn’t stir.
From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron
Tech workers and activists have staged protests this month throughout the area, sounding the alarm that AI will become tougher to control as it grows more powerful.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
His dismissal comes just days after the removal of popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov - a move that triggered street protests across the country.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
Modi has yet to comment directly on the protests.
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
Syrskiy has denied doing so, but the manner of Fedorov’s departure sparked a wave of protests, with thousands taking to the streets in protest.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
This was the first major civil rights victory won through widespread public protests.
From "Because They Marched" by Russell Freedman
Inside parliament, meanwhile, the opening day of the monsoon session was repeatedly adjourned as opposition MPs protested over the alleged paper leak and other issues.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
You have protested masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in your neighborhoods.
From Slate ● Jul. 20, 2026
Already on Thursday, around a thousand people protested Fedorov's removal in Kyiv and there were protests too in other cities.
From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026
When legislators proposed a bill arguing that the public shoreline extended 10 feet beyond the high-tide line, for example, landowners protested.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
Elizebeth never protested because she never knew it happened.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
Why are thousands protesting for education reform in India?
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
The CJP is mostly protesting over issues they have with India's education system.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
More than a thousand actors and producers sent an open letter protesting the merger in April.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
"When you have lightning less than three miles away that’s a mandatory evacuation," a US Secret Service officer said sternly to a family that was protesting.
From Barron's ● Jul. 5, 2026
He was seized and dragged to Priam, weeping and protesting that he no longer wished to be a Greek.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.