Library / English Dictionary

PROTEST

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of protesting; a public (often organized) manifestation of dissent

Synonyms:

dissent; objection; protest

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("protest" is a kind of...):

resistance (group action in opposition to those in power)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "protest"):

boycott (a group's refusal to have commercial dealings with some organization in protest against its policies)

direct action (a protest action by labor or minority groups to obtain their demands)

demonstration; manifestation (a public display of group feelings (usually of a political nature))

walkout (the act of walking out (of a meeting or organization) as a sign of protest)

Derivation:

protest (express opposition through action or words)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A formal and solemn declaration of objection

Example:

the many protestations did not stay the execution

Synonyms:

protest; protestation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("protest" is a kind of...):

objection (the speech act of objecting)

Derivation:

protest (utter words of protest)

protest (affirm or avow formally or solemnly)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The act of making a strong public expression of disagreement and disapproval

Example:

a shower of protest was heard from the rear of the hall

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("protest" is a kind of...):

objection (the speech act of objecting)

Derivation:

protest (utter words of protest)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Utter words of protest

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "protest" is one way to...):

complain; kick; kvetch; plain; quetch; sound off (express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "protest"):

declaim; inveigh (speak against in an impassioned manner)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Derivation:

protest (a formal and solemn declaration of objection)

protest (the act of making a strong public expression of disagreement and disapproval)

protestant (protesting)

protestation (a strong declaration of protest)

protester (someone who participates in a public display of group feeling)

protester (a person who dissents from some established policy)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Affirm or avow formally or solemnly

Example:

The suspect protested his innocence

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "protest" is one way to...):

affirm; assert; aver; avow; swan; swear; verify (to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Derivation:

protest; protestation (a formal and solemn declaration of objection)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Express opposition through action or words

Example:

dissent to the laws of the country

Synonyms:

dissent; protest; resist

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "protest" is one way to...):

contradict; controvert; oppose (be resistant to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "protest"):

strike; walk out (stop work in order to press demands)

demonstrate; march (march in protest; take part in a demonstration)

arise; rebel; rise; rise up (take part in a rebellion; renounce a former allegiance)

rebel; renegade (break with established customs)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

protest (the act of protesting; a public (often organized) manifestation of dissent)

protestant (protesting)

protester (someone who participates in a public display of group feeling)

protester (a person who dissents from some established policy)

Credits

 Context examples: 

It was in vain that she protested and resisted.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It is only in your client’s interests that I protested.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Is there one among the sex, who would not protest against such a weakness as a second proposal to the same woman?

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

I protest against having paid the smallest attention to any one else.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

It would be social ruin, he protested.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I gave him the promise he required; but at the same time protested, “that I would suffer the greatest hardships, rather than return to live among Yahoos.”

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Blank silence followed, no one protesting; only the maid lifted her voice and now wept loudly.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Professor Challenger raised his great eyebrows in protest, and placed a soothing paw upon my shoulder.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He sat down, his ears keenly alert to the flood of protest and indignation his words had created.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence in the strongest terms.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)