Word
rebellion
Phoneticsre·bel·lion, stress on the second syllable
US/ɹɪˈbɛɫjən/
UK/ɹɪbˈɛliən/
Definitions
01armed uprising
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. an organized, often violent attempt by a group of people to change their government or leader.
n. an act of armed resistance or an organized uprising intended to overthrow an established government or ruler.
“The army quickly moved to stop the rebellion in the northern provinces.”
“The historical records suggest the rebellion was fueled more by economic desperation than by a coherent political ideology.”
Usage
often used with the preposition 'against'
Synonyms
Antonyms
02defiance of authority
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. refusing to follow rules or do what people in power tell you to do.
n. the action or process of defying authority, control, or social convention.
Español:rebelión
“Teenagers often show their rebellion by wearing clothes that their parents dislike.”
“Her refusal to follow the corporate dress code was seen as a small act of rebellion against the company's rigid culture.”
Usage
uncountable when referring to the general spirit of defiance
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “rebellion” in context.
Verb
01. crush the rebellion
“The regime used brutal force to crush the rebellion before it could spread to the capital.”
verb + noun
02. incite a rebellion
“The charismatic leader was accused of trying to incite a rebellion against the monarchy.”
verb + noun
03. quell a rebellion
“The government deployed the military to quell the rebellion in the northern provinces.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. armed rebellion
“What started as a peaceful protest quickly escalated into an armed rebellion.”
adj + noun
05. open rebellion
“Several senior ministers are now in open rebellion against the Prime Minister's leadership.”
adj + noun
06. widespread rebellion
“The new tax laws sparked widespread rebellion among the working-class population.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. act of rebellion
“Refusing to wear the mandatory uniform was seen as a small but significant act of rebellion.”
noun + of + noun
08. rebellion against authority
“Teenagers often go through a phase of rebellion against authority figures.”
noun + prep + noun
Preposition
09. in rebellion
“The entire region is in rebellion following the controversial election results.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“From the Americans’ point of view, it was one thing for the British to try to put down a rebellion by their own colonists.” “The group mounted the Irish Rebellion of 1798 , fighting back against British rule.” “When Margot is taken for re‑education, Alfie teams up with the rebellious Unsilenced in an effort to rescue her, only to uncover the Ministry’s plans to make rebellion impossible.” Etymology
From Middle English rebellioun, rebellion, from Old French rebellion, from Latin rebelliō. Equivalent for rebel + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/rebellion
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0