rebel Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun `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
    Reb; Johnny Reb; greyback; Johnny.
  2. noun a person who takes part in an armed rebellion against the constituted authority (especially in the hope of improving conditions)
    insurgent; freedom fighter; insurrectionist.
  3. noun someone who exhibits great independence in thought and action
    maverick.
  4. verb take part in a rebellion; renounce a former allegiance
    rise; rise up; arise.
  5. verb break with established customs
    renegade.

WordNet

Reb"el adjective
Etymology
F. rebelle, fr. L. rebellis. See Rebel, v. t.
Definitions
  1. Pertaining to rebels or rebellion; acting in revolt; rebellious; as, rebel troops.
    Whoso be rebel to my judgment. Chaucer.
    Convict by flight, and rebel to all law. Milton.
Reb"el noun
Etymology
F. rebelle.
Definitions
  1. One who rebels. Syn. -- Revolter; insurgent. -- Rebel, Insurgent. Insurgent marks an early, and rebel a more advanced, stage of opposition to government. The former rises up against his rulers, the latter makes war upon them.
Re*bel" intransitive verb
Etymology
F. rebeller, fr. L. rebellare to make war again; pref. re- again + bellare to make war, fr. bellum war. See Bellicose, and cf. Revel to carouse.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Rebelled ; present participle & verbal noun Rebelling
Definitions
  1. To renounce, and resist by force, the authority of the ruler or government to which one owes obedience. See Rebellion.
    The murmur and the churl's rebelling. Chaucer.
    Ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the Lord. Josh. xxii. 16.
  2. To be disobedient to authority; to assume a hostile or insubordinate attitude; to revolt.
    Hoe could my hand rebel against my heart? How could you heart rebel against your reason? Dryden.

Webster 1913