REBEL Definition & Meaning

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rebel

[reb-uhl, ri-bel]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a person who refuses allegiance to, resists, or rises in arms against the government or ruler of their country.
Synonyms: , , ,
a person who resists any authority, control, or tradition.

adjective

rebellious; defiant.
Synonyms: ,
of or relating to rebels.

verb (used without object)

rebel, rebelled, rebelling.

to reject, resist, or rise in arms against one's government or ruler.
Synonyms: ,
to resist or rise against some authority, control, or tradition.
to show or feel utter repugnance.
His very soul rebelled at spanking the child.

rebel

verb

to resist or rise up against a government or other authority, esp by force of arms
to dissent from an accepted moral code or convention of behaviour, dress, etc
to show repugnance (towards)

noun

1. a person who rebels
2. ( as modifier )
  a rebel soldier
  a rebel leader
a person who dissents from some accepted moral code or convention of behaviour, dress, etc

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

rebellike adjective
nonrebel noun
prorebel adjective
semirebel noun
ˈ��ǳ� noun

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of rebel¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English adjective rebel(e), from Old French rebelle, from Latin rebellis “renewing a war,” equivalent to re- re- + bell(um) “war” + -is adjective suffix; Middle English verb rebelle(n), from Old French rebeller and Latin ��; noun derivative of the adjective

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of rebel¹

C13: from Old French rebelle , from Latin rebellis insurgent, from _re- + bellum war

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

I hope that the first truly intelligent machines will be smart enough to rebel against their parents.

From

Sir Keir Starmer has hit back at potential rebels in the Labour Party over his plans to cut the benefits bill, insisting "we have got to get the reforms through."

From

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall is making changes to her package of welfare reforms in an attempt to reassure Labour MPs who are considering rebelling against the plans.

From

The rebels eventually relented under threat of arrest, a rare power in the Texas Constitution used to compel absent members back to return to Austin when the Legislature is in session.

From

"Many times I rebelled, I swear. But, in my opinion, I did what had to be done," he told the court on Tuesday.

From

Related 51�Թ�s

defy��
overthrow��
renounce��
resist��
revolt��
secede��
take up arms��

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When To Use

What does��rebel mean?

A rebel is a person who resists or defies rules or norms or rises up against the powers that be.In its more serious sense, a rebel is a revolutionary trying to overthrow a government. More generally, it means someone who breaks the rules, resists authority, or otherwise challenges the status quo by doing things in a nontraditional way, such as in fashion and other arts. As a noun, rebel is pronounced "REB-uhl."Rebel is also a verb meaning to resist or rise up against authority or tradition. As a verb, rebel is pronounced "ri-BELL."Example: Danielle refused to wear her uniform to school, fighting with the principle and urging the other girls to rebel against the policy as she did.

Rebekah rebeldom

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