uprising

noun

up·​ris·​ing ˈəp-ˌrī-ziŋ How to pronounce uprising (audio)
Synonyms of uprisingnext
: an act or instance of rising up
especially : a usually localized act of popular violence in defiance usually of an established government

Synonyms of uprising

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rebellion, revolution, uprising, revolt, insurrection, mutiny mean an outbreak against authority.

rebellion implies an open formidable resistance that is often unsuccessful.

open rebellion against the officers

revolution applies to a successful rebellion resulting in a major change (as in government).

a political revolution that toppled the monarchy

uprising implies a brief, limited, and often immediately ineffective rebellion.

quickly put down the uprising

revolt and insurrection imply an armed uprising that quickly fails or succeeds.

a revolt by the Young Turks that surprised party leaders
an insurrection of oppressed laborers

mutiny applies to group insubordination or insurrection especially against naval authority.

a mutiny led by the ship's cook

Examples of uprising in a Sentence

The government quickly put down the uprising. the uprising was quickly and brutally suppressed
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Johnny Knoxville faces a summer camp uprising as his new comedy heads to theaters. — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 6 July 2026 An uprising that left inmates in control of a detention center has ended with some people injured, North Carolina officials say. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 29 June 2026 Frustration with those projects, along with deeper issues of corruption and opaque governance, has sparked the largest popular uprising in Albania since the fall of communism. — Max Grinstein, The Washington Examiner, 3 July 2026 Egypt’s tourism has started to recover after years of years of political turmoil and violence following the 2011 uprising, as well as the coronavirus pandemic. — ABC News, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for uprising

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of uprising was in the 13th century

Rhymes for uprising

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Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Uprising.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uprising. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

uprising

noun
up·​ris·​ing ˈəp-ˌrī-ziŋ How to pronounce uprising (audio)
: an act or instance of rising up

More from Merriam-Webster on uprising

Nglish: Translation of uprising for Spanish Speakers

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