rally
pronunciation
How to pronounce rally in British English:
UK [ˈræli]
How to pronounce rally in American English:
US [ˈræli]
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- Noun:
- a large gathering of people intended to arouse enthusiasm
- the feat of mustering strength for a renewed effort
- a marked recovery of strength or spirits during an illness
- an automobile race run over public roads
- (sports) an unbroken sequence of several successive strokes
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- Verb:
- gather
- call to arms; of military personnel
- gather or bring together
- return to a former condition
- harass with persistent criticism or carping
Word Origin
- rally (n.)
- 1650s, originally in the military sense of "a regrouping for renewed action after a repulse," from rally (v.1). Sense of "mass meeting to stir enthusiasm" first attested 1840, American English. Sense of "gathering of automobile enthusiasts" is from 1932, from French rallye, itself from the English noun. Sports sense of "long series of hits" in tennis, etc., is from 1881, earlier "series of back-and-forth blows in a boxing match" (1829).
- rally (v.1)
- "bring together," c. 1600, from French rallier, from Old French ralier "reassemble, unite again," from re- "again" (see re-) + alier "unite" (see ally (v.)). Intransitive meaning "pull together hastily, recover order, revive, rouse" is from 1660s. Related: Rallied; rallying. Rally round the flag (1862) is a line from popular American Civil War song "Battle Cry of Freedom."
- rally (v.2)
- "make fun of, tease," 1660s, from French railler "to rail, reproach" (see rail (v.)).
Example
- 1. Obama shouted at one political rally in early august .
- 2. This has helped to rally some support for the regime .
- 3. The rally has once more been driven by interest-rate cuts .
- 4. The annual green car rally is the biggest of its kind in the world .
- 5. And a rally will show the market has efficiently and swiftly reflected that information .