revolt
B2Formal/News/Historical
Definition
Meaning
To violently rise up against an established authority or rule.
To provoke disgust or strong opposition; to cause a feeling of loathing.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Revolt" as a noun describes the event/action of rebellion. As a verb, it can be transitive (e.g., 'The idea revolts me') or intransitive (e.g., 'The citizens revolted'). The intransitive verb is often followed by 'against'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. The pronunciation differs slightly.
Connotations
Both carry strong connotations of organized, often violent, political/military action. Less formal than 'insurrection' or 'coup' but more formal than 'uprising' in certain contexts.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties; common in historical and political discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NOUN] revolt(s) against [AUTHORITY][PEOPLE/ARMY] revolt(s)[IDEA/SIGHT] revolts [SOMEONE]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “stomach revolts at something (literary)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically, e.g., 'Shareholders revolted against the CEO's bonus.'
Academic
Common in historical, political science, and sociological texts describing uprisings.
Everyday
More common in discussing news/history than daily conversation. The verb sense of disgust is used.
Technical
Not a technical term per se, but standard in political/military analysis.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The king's new taxes sparked a peasant revolt.
- There was a revolt within the party over the leadership's direction.
American English
- The revolt was put down by the national guard.
- Managing the budget caused a revolt among department heads.
verb
British English
- The troops threatened to revolt if their pay was withheld.
- The very thought of eating snails revolted her.
American English
- The colonists revolted against British rule.
- The graphic images in the report revolted the committee members.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A (not standard). The participial adjective 'revolting' is used.
American English
- N/A (not standard). The participial adjective 'revolting' is used.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The people revolted because they were very poor.
- The bad smell revolted him.
- The harsh new laws led to a widespread revolt in the northern provinces.
- She was revolted by the cruelty shown in the documentary.
- The general's attempt to seize power triggered a revolt within the officer corps.
- His cynical worldview revolts those who still believe in political idealism.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of RE-VOLT-age: turning the VOLTage back against the power source.
Conceptual Metaphor
REBELLION IS A SICKNESS/REJECTION (the body politic rejects the authority).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'револьвер' (revolver).
- The noun 'revolt' is not synonymous with 'revolution' (революция), which implies a more fundamental systemic change, though they overlap.
- The verb 'to revolt' meaning 'to disgust' has no direct single-word equivalent; use 'вызывать отвращение'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'They revolted the government.' Correct: 'They revolted against the government.'
- Confusing spelling: 'revolut' (like the app) instead of 'revolt'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a typical synonym for 'revolt' (noun)?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A 'revolt' is a rebellion against authority, which may or may not succeed. A 'revolution' is a more fundamental and often successful overthrow of a system, leading to radical change.
Its primary sense implies violence or the threat of it. For purely non-violent opposition, words like 'protest', 'boycott', or 'resistance' are more precise, though 'revolt' can be used loosely/metaphorically.
A 'mutiny' is a specific type of revolt carried out by soldiers, sailors, or other members of a disciplined force against their commanders. 'Revolt' is a broader term applicable to any population or group.
It is a transitive verb in this sense. Structure: [Something] revolts [someone]. Example: 'The hypocrisy of the politician revolts me.' It is more formal/literary than 'disgusts' or 'sickens'.
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