# protesting

/ˈpɹoʊˌtɛstɪŋ/ (US) · /pɹətˈɛstɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/protesting
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. public demonstration

verb · CEFR B1

taking part in a public event to show that you disagree with a law or a situation.

For teachers: participating in a public demonstration or collective action to express formal dissent against a policy or authority.

- Thousands of people were protesting against the new tax in the city centre.
- The students spent the afternoon protesting against the proposed tuition hikes, carrying banners and chanting outside the administrative building.

Usage: often used with the preposition 'against'

### 2. stating firmly

verb · CEFR B2

saying something very strongly because you want people to believe you are right or innocent.

For teachers: asserting something emphatically, especially in response to an accusation or doubt.

- He kept protesting that he had never seen the stolen money before.
- Despite the overwhelming evidence presented by the prosecution, the defendant remained in the witness box protesting his innocence.

Usage: often followed by a 'that' clause

### 3. the act of dissent

noun · CEFR B2

the act of expressing disagreement or the feeling of being against something.

For teachers: the action of making a protest; the manifestation of objection or disapproval.

- Protesting is a fundamental right in many democratic countries.
- The constant protesting from the local community eventually forced the developers to reconsider the location of the new highway.

Usage: functions as a gerund or verbal noun

## Examples

- The students are protesting against the new tuition fees.
- Thousands of citizens gathered in the city square, protesting the government's decision to cut funding for public libraries.
- While some were merely protesting the specific policy, others used the demonstration to demand a complete overhaul of the legislative process.

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