REBEL (rebelled, rebelling)

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: rebelled    , rebelling   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does Rebel mean? 

• REBEL (noun)
  The noun REBEL has 3 senses:

1. 'Johnny' was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; 'greyback' derived from their grey Confederate uniforms

2. a person who takes part in an armed rebellion against the constituted authority (especially in the hope of improving conditions)

3. someone who exhibits great independence in thought and action

  Familiarity information: REBEL used as a noun is uncommon.

• REBEL (verb)
  The verb REBEL has 2 senses:

1. take part in a rebellion; renounce a former allegiance

2. break with established customs

  Familiarity information: REBEL used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• REBEL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

'Johnny' was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; 'greyback' derived from their grey Confederate uniforms

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

greyback; Johnny; Johnny Reb; Reb; Rebel

Hypernyms ("Rebel" is a kind of...):

Confederate soldier (a soldier in the Army of the Confederacy during the American Civil War)

Domain usage:

colloquialism (a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A person who takes part in an armed rebellion against the constituted authority (especially in the hope of improving conditions)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

freedom fighter; insurgent; insurrectionist; rebel

Hypernyms ("rebel" is a kind of...):

crusader; meliorist; reformer; reformist; social reformer (a disputant who advocates reform)

revolutionary; revolutionist; subversive; subverter (a radical supporter of political or social revolution)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "rebel"):

mutineer (someone who is openly rebellious and refuses to obey authorities (especially seamen or soldiers))

Young Turk (a member of one or more of the insurgent groups in Turkey in the late 19th century who rebelled against the absolutism of Ottoman rule)

Instance hyponyms:

Nat Turner; Turner (United States slave and insurrectionist who in 1831 led a rebellion of slaves in Virginia; he was captured and executed (1800-1831))

Denmark Vesey; Vesey (United States freed slave and insurrectionist in South Carolina who was involved in planning an uprising of slaves and was hanged (1767-1822))

Sir William Wallace; Wallace (Scottish insurgent who led the resistance to Edward I; in 1297 he gained control of Scotland briefly until Edward invaded Scotland again and defeated Wallace and subsequently executed him (1270-1305))

Derivation:

rebel (take part in a rebellion; renounce a former allegiance)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Someone who exhibits great independence in thought and action

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

maverick; rebel

Hypernyms ("rebel" is a kind of...):

nonconformist; recusant (someone who refuses to conform to established standards of conduct)

Derivation:

rebel (break with established customs)

• REBEL (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they rebel ... he / she / it rebels
Past simple: rebelled   
Past participle: rebelled   
-ing form: rebelling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Take part in a rebellion; renounce a former allegiance

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

arise; rebel; rise; rise up

Hypernyms (to "rebel" is one way to...):

dissent; protest; resist (express opposition through action or words)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "rebel"):

revolt (make revolution)

mutiny (engage in a mutiny against an authority)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

They rebel

Derivation:

rebel (a person who takes part in an armed rebellion against the constituted authority (especially in the hope of improving conditions))

rebellion (organized opposition to authority; a conflict in which one faction tries to wrest control from another)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Break with established customs

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

rebel; renegade

Hypernyms (to "rebel" is one way to...):

dissent; protest; resist (express opposition through action or words)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

rebel (someone who exhibits great independence in thought and action)

rebellion (refusal to accept some authority or code or convention)

 Context examples 

Bhurtee was relieved by Neill next day, but the rebels took me away with them in their retreat, and it was many a long year before ever I saw a white face again.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It was resolved now that such an example should be made of them as would prevent any other victim from rebelling.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

So Omar, so I, so you, even you, for you rebelled against dying when Cooky sharpened a knife for you.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Though his dignity was sorely hurt by thus being made a draught animal, he was too wise to rebel.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

The fact that Uranus is your ruler is the reason you were born with the talent to innovate and rebel against tradition and the status quo when you feel it is necessary.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

I do not expect that you, who always rebelled against my just authority, exerted for your benefit and reformation, should owe me any good-will now.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Being an energetic individual, Mr. Laurence struck while the iron was hot, and before the blighted being recovered spirit enough to rebel, they were off.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

At times, too, when the wild fit was upon her, she would break into pertness and rebel openly against Alleyne's gentle firmness.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Nobody manufactured their opinions for them; they were all rebels of one variety or another, and their lips were strangers to platitudes.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I would fain have rebelled, but felt that in the present state of things it would be madness to quarrel openly with the Count whilst I am so absolutely in his power; and to refuse would be to excite his suspicion and to arouse his anger.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)