# revolt

/ɹiˈvoʊɫt/ (US) · /ɹɪvˈəʊlt/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. a rebellion

noun · CEFR B2

a protest or fight by a large group of people against their government or leaders.

For teachers: an organized attempt by a large group of people to change their government or leader through protest or violence.

- The high taxes led to a popular revolt against the king.
- The military revolt was suppressed within forty-eight hours, though the underlying political grievances remained unaddressed by the ruling council.

### 2. to rebel

verb · CEFR B2

to fight against authority or refuse to obey a government.

For teachers: to take part in a rebellion or to refuse to acknowledge the authority of a governing body.

- The citizens decided to revolt when the government took away their rights.
- The provincial governors threatened to revolt if the central administration continued to ignore their requests for emergency funding.

### 3. to disgust

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to make someone feel sick or very shocked.

For teachers: to cause a feeling of intense disgust or revulsion in someone.

- The violent scenes in the movie revolted many people in the audience.
- The conditions in the overcrowded refugee camp revolted the visiting journalists, who immediately published a scathing report on the lack of sanitation.

### 4. to feel disgust

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to feel sick or shocked because of something bad.

For teachers: to experience a strong feeling of physical or moral revulsion; frequently used with the preposition 'at'.

- Her mind revolted at the idea of lying to her best friend.
- The diplomat's conscience revolted at the prospect of signing a treaty that he knew would lead to further regional instability.

## Examples

- The citizens started a revolt against the unfair new taxes.
- The military revolt was quickly suppressed by the government before it could spread to the capital city.
- Historians often debate whether the peasant revolt was a spontaneous outburst of hunger or a calculated political move orchestrated by local nobility seeking to undermine the crown.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.