rebel
rebel — noun
1. a person engaged in armed opposition to the government that rules their country.
a person engaged in armed opposition to the government that rules their country.
The rebels captured the capital after months of fighting.
collocation: rebel forces / rebel fighters
The government offered the rebels a chance to surrender peacefully.
Hamza joined the rebels because he wanted democracy for his country.
During the ceasefire, many rebels handed over their weapons to United Nations inspectors.
- insurgent
more formal; often used in news reports about ongoing conflicts
- guerrilla
focuses on fighting style — small groups using surprise attacks
- freedom fighter
positive or sympathetic term for someone the speaker supports
- loyalist
a person who remains faithful to the government
用法筆記
Often used in the plural (rebels) to refer to an organised armed group operating within a country.
常見錯誤
2. a person who refuses to follow accepted rules, customs, or standards of behaviou
a person who refuses to follow accepted rules, customs, or standards of behaviour in society.
At school, Anthony was known as a rebel who never followed the dress code.
collocation: known as a rebel
The fashion designer was a rebel who ignored every seasonal trend.
Shanti has always been a rebel — she refuses to attend weddings or wear jewellery.
Nora was never a rebel; she preferred to follow the rules her parents set.
- nonconformist
more neutral; describes someone who simply does not follow conventions
- maverick
an independent-minded person who does things their own way, often in business or politics
- dissenter
someone who disagrees openly with an established opinion or system
- conformist
someone who follows social norms and rules
- traditionalist
someone who strongly supports established customs
用法筆記
Can be neutral or admiring. A positive context emphasises independence (a creative rebel); a negative one emphasises troublemaking.
rebel — verb
1. to use force or take up arms against the government of one's own country.
to use force or take up arms against the government of one's own country.
Thousands of citizens rebelled when the army took control of the city.
intransitive: no object needed
The northern tribes rebelled against the king's new tax laws.
pattern: rebel against [cause]
Gabriel's grandfather rebelled against the colonial government in the 1950s.
When food prices rose sharply, the people of the capital rebelled.
文法句型
rebel against + [government / authority]
用法筆記
Intransitive only — you rebel against someone/something, not *rebel someone. The subject is typically a group, not an individual acting alone.
常見錯誤
2. to deliberately not follow rules or the instructions of people who have power ov
to deliberately not follow rules or the instructions of people who have power over you.
Many teenagers rebel against school rules as a way of expressing themselves.
pattern: rebel against + [rule / person]
When the coach gave unfair orders, the whole team rebelled.
Dewi refused to rebel and instead asked for permission to leave early.
Yasmin never rebelled against her parents, even when she disagreed with their decisions.
文法句型
rebel against + [person / rule / institution]
用法筆記
Distinguish from verb/1: this sense involves refusing to obey rules without necessarily using force. The object of rebellion can be a person (parent, teacher) or an institution (school, company).
常見錯誤
3. to feel or show strong opposition to a situation, emotion, or proposal, especial
to feel or show strong opposition to a situation, emotion, or proposal, especially when it feels restrictive or unpleasant — for example, when your mind rejects a boring routine or your body rejects unhealthy food.
After months of dieting, Élise's body began to rebel against the strict food rules.
pattern: body rebels against [restriction]
Reuben felt his mind rebel against spending forty years in an office.
The children rebelled against the plan to spend the whole holiday visiting museums.
Manuela's stomach rebelled against the spicy street food she ate at the night market.
- resist
more neutral; can be physical or mental
- reject
more definite; the subject refuses to accept something
- kick against
idiomatic, informal; expresses frustration with something you cannot change
文法句型
rebel against + [feeling / situation / plan]
用法筆記
Subject is often a body part, emotion, or instinct rather than a person acting consciously. Unlike verb/1 and verb/2, this sense does not involve a deliberate choice to disobey.
常見錯誤
rebel — adjective
1. describing people, groups, or areas that are fighting against the government of
describing people, groups, or areas that are fighting against the government of their country using force.
Rebel forces attacked the military base just before sunrise.
collocation: rebel forces / rebel army
International aid groups have been allowed into rebel-held areas for the first time.
The rebel army controlled most of the countryside by the end of the year.
Both rebel and government leaders agreed to meet for peace talks next week.
- insurgent
more formal; used in official reports
- revolutionary
broader; can describe political or social movements
- loyalist
supporting the existing government
- government
as in government troops / government forces
用法筆記
Used only before a noun (attributive). You can say rebel soldiers but not *The soldiers are rebel. For predicative use, choose rebellious instead.
常見錯誤
2. connected with or belonging to a group of people who oppose the government.
connected with or belonging to a group of people who oppose the government.
The radio station was shut down for broadcasting rebel propaganda.
collocation: rebel propaganda / rebel activity
The village was destroyed because of its support for rebel groups in the region.
The general denied having any rebel connections during the investigation.
Journalists were not allowed to enter areas with rebel activity.
用法筆記
Very similar to adj/1 but broader — can describe non-military aspects of the rebel movement such as its propaganda, supply networks, or political activities.
3. refusing to obey rules or follow the usual standards of behaviour expected by ot
refusing to obey rules or follow the usual standards of behaviour expected by others.
As a teenager, Eli had a rebel attitude that got him into trouble.
collocation: rebel attitude / rebel spirit
The school expelled three students for their rebel behaviour in class.
Heloísa's rebel style — leather jackets and ripped jeans — worried her grandmother.
Eri's rebel spirit made her popular with classmates but unpopular with the school authorities.
- rebellious
the standard adjective; can be used both before and after a noun
- defiant
suggests open resistance and a refusal to be controlled
- disobedient
focuses on failing to follow orders; usually negative
- obedient
following rules and orders willingly
- compliant
agreeing to do what others ask
- well-behaved
acting in a socially acceptable way
用法筆記
Unlike adj/1 and adj/2, this sense is not limited to politics. It describes personal character or fashion. In informal English, it can also follow the verb (e.g. 'He went a bit rebel in college').