protest
protest
Pronunciation
protest (noun or verb)
IPA: /proʊˈtɛst/ (This is the most common pronunciation in both American and British English)
Breakdown by Syllable:
proʊ (rhymes with "know")
/p/ - voiceless bilabial stop (similar to the "p" sound in "pie")
/r/ - alveolar trill (a voiced vibration of the tongue tip near the alveolar ridge)
/əʊ/ - close back rounded diphthong (combination of the "o" sound in "own" and the "u" sound in "boot")
tɛst (rhymes with "test")
/t/ - voiceless alveolar stop (similar to the "t" sound in "tap")
/ɛ/ - mid central vowel (similar to the "e" sound in "bet")
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative (a hissing sound produced by forcing air through a narrow opening between the tongue and the alveolar ridge)
/t/ - voiceless alveolar stop (similar to the "t" sound in "tap")
Word Form Variations
While "protest" itself can function as both a noun and a verb, there aren't many grammatical variations for the word itself. Here's the breakdown:
Singular: protest (noun) / protest (verb)
Plural: protests (noun) / protest (verb) (Verbs don't change form for plural subjects)
However, there are related words derived from "protest" that you might find useful:
Protester/Protestor (noun): Someone who participates in a protest.
Protestingly (adverb): In a way that expresses protest.
Protestable (adjective): Able to be protested against.
Protestive (adjective): Serving as a protest.
These variations can help you express the concept of protest in different grammatical contexts.
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Noun:
Definition: A public expression of objection or disapproval, often involving gathering and demonstrating. (e.g., The environmental group held a protest against the new drilling project.)
Synonyms: Demonstration, rally, march, dissent, objection
Antonyms: Acceptance, approval, endorsement
Verb:
Definition: To express public objection or disapproval, often through demonstrations or marches. (e.g., The students protested the new school policy.)
Synonyms: Demonstrate, rally, march, dissent, object
Antonyms: Accept, approve, endorse
Note: Although "protestable" is an adjective derived from "protest," it's not very common in everyday speech.
Examples of Use
Noun:
Book: "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee: Scout Finch describes witnessing a peaceful protest for racial justice: "The Maycomb County courthouse lawn was a-crawl with men. Atticus said they were having a protest" (Lee, Chapter 18).
Newspaper: "The New York Times": Headline - "Thousands Protest Police Brutality Across the Country" (The New York Times, May 28, 2020).
Online Publication: Greenpeace website details upcoming protests against climate change inaction.
Verb:
Movie: "The Hunger Games" - Katniss Everdeen ignites a rebellion by defiantly volunteering as tribute in place of her younger sister, effectively protesting the oppressive Capitol (The Hunger Games, 2012).
Social Media: A tweet - "I'm protesting for stricter gun control laws #EnoughIsEnough" (hypothetical example).
Public Discourse: A local community leader speaks at a town hall meeting, protesting the proposed budget cuts to education programs.
General Usage:
Verb: "The workers are protesting for better wages and benefits."
Noun: "The anti-war protest drew a large crowd."
Adverb (less common): "She spoke protestingly about the unfair treatment." (This usage is less frequent than verb or noun forms)
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Protest
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." - Martin Luther King, Jr. (This quote implies protesting injustice is essential)
“There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.” – Elie Wiesel (Highlights the importance of speaking out even when change seems difficult)
"A riot is the language of the unheard." - Martin Luther King, Jr. (Connects protest to the need to be heard)
"The ballot is stronger than the bullet." - Abraham Lincoln (Emphasizes peaceful protest through voting over violence)
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke (Implies a duty to protest against wrongdoings)
"You are never too small to make a difference." - Greta Thunberg (Inspires participation in protest regardless of age)
"Protest beyond the law is not a departure from democracy; it is absolutely essential to it." - Howard Zinn (Argues that protest can be a necessary tool in a democracy)
"We shall overcome." - Civil Rights Movement Slogan (Expresses hope and resilience through protest)
"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice." - Martin Luther King, Jr. (Connects protest to the eventual triumph of justice)
"Silence in the face of injustice is complicity with the oppressor." - Desmond Tutu (Highlights the moral responsibility to protest against injustice)
Etymology
The word "protest" is like a mashup of two older words, one from French and one from Latin, that both meant something similar.
The French word "protester" meant to declare something publicly.
The Latin word "protestare" meant to make a formal statement or oath in public.
Think of it this way: imagine you're in a mediaeval court and someone is accusing you of a crime you didn't commit. You would loudly protest your innocence, which is basically saying "Hey everyone, listen up! This isn't true!"
The first known use of "protest" in English showed up around the late 1500s and it had a similar meaning. It described someone who was making a public declaration of disagreement with something. So, the word has stuck around for centuries with the same core idea: saying something you disagree with in a public way.
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Protest
Phrases:
Hold/Stage/Organise a protest: To plan and carry out a public demonstration of disapproval. (e.g., "The students organised a protest against the dress code.")
Join a protest: To participate in an existing public demonstration. (e.g., "She joined the protest for environmental protection.")
Lodge a protest: To formally register disapproval with an authority figure or organisation. (e.g., "The company lodged a protest over the new import tariffs.")
Walk out in protest: To leave a place or event as a sign of disapproval. (e.t., "The players walked out in protest of the unfair officiating.")
In protest of/at: To express disapproval of something through a protest. (e.g., "The boycott was held in protest of the working conditions.")
Idioms:
Protest too much: To express too much disagreement or disapproval, which can sometimes backfire and make your position seem less believable. (e.g., "If you keep protesting your innocence so loudly, people might start to think you're guilty!")
Under protest: To do something reluctantly or against your will, often while expressing your disapproval. (e.g., "He signed the contract under protest, but he still believes it's unfair.")
These phrases and idioms can help you express the concept of protest in various contexts, from formal situations to everyday conversation.
Posts Related to Protest
Source Information
Definition of protest from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
