uprising

noun

up·​ris·​ing ˈəp-ˌrī-ziŋ 

: an act or instance of rising up

especially : a usually localized act of popular violence in defiance usually of an established government

Synonyms

• insurgence
• insurgency
• insurrection
• mutiny
• outbreak
• rebellion
• revolt
• revolution
• rising

Choose the Right Synonym for uprising

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

Arrested repeatedly since the height of the Egyptian uprising in 2011, he was sentenced in 2021 to an additional five years in prison for spreading false news and assaulting a police officer – charges that human rights organizations say were politically motivated. —Mounira Elsamra, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2025

Rather than the epic battles of good vs. evil that ground the Skywalker saga, Andor's focus is the human cost of rebellion and harsh realities of a prolonged uprising against an authoritarian regime. —Megan McCluskey, Time, 22 Apr. 2025

Their uprising over, they are presented with a fresh set of challenges under the rule of a cunning pig named Napoleon (Rogen). —Brent Lang, Variety, 22 Apr. 2025

Few people remember the saviors, who included the governor Hugh Carey, the investment banker Felix Rohatyn, and a bunch of union leaders whose uprisings kept the government from gutting essential services. —Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for uprising

• advising
• apprising
• arising
• baptizing
• capsizing
• chastising
• comprising
• despising
• devising
• disguising
• downsizing
• excising

Kids Definition

uprising

noun

up·​ris·​ing ˈəp-ˌrī-ziŋ 

: an act or instance of rising up