protest

present singular third person protests · participle present protesting · participle past protested · past protested

1. intransitiveTo make a strong objection.

   How dare you, I protest!

   4 more examples

   The public took to the streets to protest over the planned change to the law.

   As a political system democracy seems to me extraordinarily foolish, but I would not go out of my way to protest against it. My servant is, so far as I am concerned, welcome to as many votes as he can get. I would very gladly make mine over to him if I could.

   1915, G[eorge] A. Birmingham [pseudonym; James Owen Hannay], chapter I, in Gossamer, New York, N.Y.: George H. Doran Company, →OCLC

   U.S. and European protested against Spanish conduct in Cuba.

   2009, Cuba

   On November 29 1952, a special train ran from Sunderland to Leeds for Christmas shoppers and those attending a Leeds vs. Brentford match. It caused controversy, with Sunderland traders protesting that their shops were just as good as those in Leeds.

   2023 December 27, David Turner, “Silent lines...”, in RAIL, number 999, page 29

2. transitiveTo affirm (something).

   I protest my innocence.

   4 more examples

   I do protest and declare …

   I will protest your cowardice.

   1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]

   Our youth, now, emboldened with his success, resolved to push the matter farther, and ventured even to beg her recommendation of him to her father's service; protesting that he thought him one of the honestest fellows in the country, and extremely well qualified for the place of a gamekeeper, which luckily then happened to be vacant.

   1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC

   She flashed a smile at me, and, protesting an engagement with her dentist, jauntily walked on.

   1919, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, “Ch.8”, in The Moon and Sixpence, [New York, N.Y.]: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers […], →OCLC

3. To object to.

   1 more example

   "The gay community would love to point to Patti and say, 'She's one of us'" […] I protest the statement I have mentioned, as well as others like it. Few people I know, gay or straight, identify with the often outrageous thoughts of Patti Smith. Among other things, she's indicated in interviews that she thinks violence and rape are dandy experiences.

   1976 February 14, Joan DeForeest, “Irresponsible Inaccuracies Infuriate”, in Gay Community News, volume 3, number 33, page 5

4. CanadaUStransitiveTo publicly demonstrate against.

   They protested the demolition of the school.

5. To call as a witness in affirming or denying, or to prove an affirmation; to appeal to.

   Fiercely [they] opposed / My journey strange, with clamorous uproar / Protesting fate supreme.

   1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

6. transitivelawto make a solemn written declaration, in due form, on behalf of the holder, against all parties liable for any loss or damage to be sustained by non-acceptance or non-payment of (a bill or note). This should be made by a notary public, whose seal it is the usual practice to affix.
7. obsoletetransitiveTo publish; to make known.

plural protests

1. countableuncountableA formal objection, especially one by a group.

   They lodged a protest with the authorities.

2. countableuncountableA collective gesture of disapproval; a demonstration.

   We held a protest in front of City Hall.

   2 more examples

   All this has led to an explosion of protest across China, including among a middle class that has discovered nimbyism.

   2013 August 10, “Can China clean up fast enough?”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8848

   Sage Ip, a 29-year-old flight attendant who cast her ballot on Sunday in the Sai Ying Pun district, said she voted in the primary because she was worried that she would never get a chance to do so again. “Voting is something that is still within our capacity. We can’t express ourselves at protests anymore.”

   2020 July 13, Austin Ramzy, Elaine Yu, Tiffany May, “Hong Kong Voters Defy Beijing, Endorsing Protest Leaders in Primary”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 14 Jul 2020

3. countableuncountableThe noting by a notary public of an unpaid or unaccepted bill.
4. countableuncountableA written declaration, usually by the master of a ship, stating the circumstances attending loss or damage of ship or cargo, etc.