rebel

noun

/ˈrebl/

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a person who fights against the government of their country
- rebel forces
- Armed rebels advanced towards the capital.
- Some parts of the country fell into rebel hands.
Extra Examples
- The rebels seized control of the national radio headquarters.
- The rebels were based in camps along the border.
- The southern parts of the country had fallen into rebel control.
- They sent in troops to back the rebels.
- a group of rebels against the emperor
- military operations against the rebels
- new recruits to the rebel cause
- Rebel forces clashed with government troops.
Topics War and conflictc1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- anti-government
- leftist
- left-wing
- …
… of rebels
- band
- group
verb + rebel
- back
- help
- support
- …
rebel + verb
- be based…
- advance
- attack something
- …
rebel + noun
- faction
- group
- movement
- …
preposition
- against the rebel
- rebel against
phrases
- a bit of a rebel
- something of a rebel
See full entry
a person who opposes somebody in authority over them within an organization, a political party, etc.
- A number of Tory rebels are planning to vote against the government.
- The Education Secretary has made further concessions to the back-bench rebels.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- anti-government
- leftist
- left-wing
- …
… of rebels
- band
- group
verb + rebel
- back
- help
- support
- …
rebel + verb
- be based…
- advance
- attack something
- …
rebel + noun
- faction
- group
- movement
- …
preposition
- against the rebel
- rebel against
phrases
- a bit of a rebel
- something of a rebel
See full entry
a person who does not like to obey rules or who does not accept normal standards of behaviour, dress, etc.
- I've always been the rebel of the family.
- He was a rebel in his teens but he’s a respectable citizen these days.
Topics Personal qualitiesc1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- anti-government
- leftist
- left-wing
- …
… of rebels
- band
- group
verb + rebel
- back
- help
- support
- …
rebel + verb
- be based…
- advance
- attack something
- …
rebel + noun
- faction
- group
- movement
- …
preposition
- against the rebel
- rebel against
phrases
- a bit of a rebel
- something of a rebel
See full entry

Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French rebelle (noun), rebeller (verb), from Latin rebellis (used originally with reference to a fresh declaration of war by the defeated), based on bellum ‘war’.

rebel

verb

/rɪˈbel/

[intransitive]

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they rebel	/rɪˈbel/ /rɪˈbel/
he / she / it rebels	/rɪˈbelz/ /rɪˈbelz/
past simple rebelled	/rɪˈbeld/ /rɪˈbeld/
past participle rebelled	/rɪˈbeld/ /rɪˈbeld/
-ing form rebelling	/rɪˈbelɪŋ/ /rɪˈbelɪŋ/

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rebel (against somebody/something) to fight against or refuse to obey an authority, for example a government, a system, your parents, etc.
- He later rebelled against his strict religious upbringing.
- Most teenagers find something to rebel against.
- In 1215 the barons rebelled against the king.
- The colonies rebelled and declared their independence.
Topics War and conflictc1, Personal qualitiesc1
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French rebelle (noun), rebeller (verb), from Latin rebellis (used originally with reference to a fresh declaration of war by the defeated), based on bellum ‘war’.