protest
protest — noun
1. a spoken or written statement that shows you strongly disagree with or oppose a
a spoken or written statement that shows you strongly disagree with or oppose a rule, a decision, or a situation.
Rachel filed a formal protest with the city council after her parking permit was denied.
file a formal protest + with [authority]
The union leader read a protest outside the factory gates, demanding fair pay for all workers.
Iker wrote a letter of protest to the editor about the way the story had been reported.
The teachers raised a protest against the new grading system before the term started.
文法句型
protest + against/about + [issue]
用法筆記
This sense is countable — you can make, file, lodge, raise, or voice a protest. It is often followed by against (the thing you oppose) or about (the issue that bothers you).
常見錯誤
2. a public gathering of people who come together to express opposition to a policy
a public gathering of people who come together to express opposition to a policy, law, or situation, often by shouting, carrying signs, or blocking streets.
Over ten thousand students joined the protest against the rise in university fees.
join a protest against [issue]
Romi carried a hand-painted sign at the climate protest outside the government building.
The protest marched peacefully through the main square while police watched from the side.
A large protest broke out in the capital after the new tax law was announced on Friday.
- demonstration
almost identical in meaning; slightly more formal and neutral
- rally
can suggest a more energetic, speech-based event, not always oppositional
- march
specifically a moving protest, not a stationary gathering
- sit-in
a protest where people sit and refuse to leave a place
文法句型
a protest + against + [issue]
a protest + over + [issue]
用法筆記
Frequently combined with descriptive verbs: stage a protest, hold a protest, organize a protest, join a protest. The preposition against introduces the target, while over introduces the cause.
常見錯誤
3. used in the fixed phrase 'under protest' to describe doing something unwillingly
used in the fixed phrase 'under protest' to describe doing something unwillingly while making it clear you disagree with it.
The factory workers signed the new contract under protest, afraid they would lose their jobs if they refused.
under protest: doing something unwillingly while disagreeing
Bilal paid the traffic fine under protest and immediately told the court he planned to appeal.
The lawyer accepted the judge's ruling under protest but made clear her client would challenge it.
The tenants paid the rent increase under protest and wrote a formal letter of objection to the landlord.
- willingly
doing something gladly and without objection
- voluntarily
acting by choice, without external pressure
文法句型
under protest
用法筆記
This sense is only used in the phrase 'under protest.' The phrase always comes after the verb: 'He agreed under protest.' It cannot be used as a standalone noun (❌ 'He made a protest' in this sense).
protest — verb
1. to join a public march, rally, or other group action as a way of expressing oppo
to join a public march, rally, or other group action as a way of expressing opposition to a law, policy, or situation.
Thousands of people gathered in the square to protest against the planned airport expansion.
protest against [plan/policy]
The students protested peacefully outside the university gates, holding banners in the rain.
protest + peacefully + adverb
Amira joined the march because she wanted to protest the new law affecting her neighborhood.
When the factory announced the layoffs, workers protested by blocking the main road for three hours.
- demonstrate
nearly identical in meaning; slightly more neutral in tone
- march
specifies moving through the streets rather than standing still
- rally
focuses on gathering together, often with speeches
文法句型
protest + against + [issue/policy]
protest + about + [issue]
protest + by + [action]
用法筆記
When the object of the protest is named directly (protest the decision), no preposition is needed. When the target is introduced by against, it is slightly more emphatic: 'protest against the war.'
常見錯誤
2. to say something firmly and with force when someone does not believe you or disa
to say something firmly and with force when someone does not believe you or disagrees with you, especially to defend yourself or express strong disagreement.
"I never touched the money," Hiro protested, but nobody believed a word he said.
protest used as a dialogue tag
The defendant protested his innocence throughout the entire trial, even when the evidence looked bad.
protest one's innocence
Jabari protested that he had already finished his part of the project, but his boss gave him more work anyway.
"That is not fair at all!" the little girl protested when her older brother took the last piece of cake.
文法句型
protest + that-clause
protest + noun (one's innocence)
protest + direct speech
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (TAKE TO THE STREETS): this sense involves only speech, not public group action. It commonly takes a that-clause (She protested that…) or a direct object phrase like 'protest one's innocence.' The verb can also introduce quoted speech as a dialogue tag.