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Meaning & use

a rally

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ə ˈræli/
US/ə ˈræli/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A large public meeting where people gather to support a cause, a team, or a political group.

    Grammar: Countable, so you can say a rally, two rallies, or the rally.

    Patterns

    • hold a rally
    • attend a rally
    • a rally for someone
    • speak at a rally

    The students held a rally in the main square to demand cheaper tuition.

    Thousands of fans attended a rally for the team before the final.

    She spoke at a rally for the workers' union last Friday.

  2. nouncountablesport

    A car or motorcycle race over public roads, in which drivers must reach checkpoints on time.

    Grammar: Countable; often used in the names of events, as in 'the Monte Carlo Rally'.

    Patterns

    • win a rally
    • take part in a rally
    • a rally driver

    He has been driving in a rally since he was nineteen.

    The mountain roads are closed for a rally this weekend.

  3. nouncountablesport

    A long exchange of hits in tennis, squash, or a similar game before a point ends.

    Grammar: Countable; usually describes the action inside one point, not the whole match.

    Patterns

    • win a rally
    • a long rally

    The crowd cheered after a rally that lasted almost a minute.

    She won the rally with a low shot down the line.

  4. nouncountablebusinessfinance

    A recovery in strength, price, or support after a period of weakness.

    Grammar: Countable; common in business and news reports about markets or health.

    Patterns

    • a rally in something
    • stage a rally
    • a late rally

    Shares staged a rally after the company reported strong profits.

    There was a brief rally in the dollar before it fell again.

Word forms

pluralrallies

Common combinations

hold a rally
The party plans to hold a rally in the city center.
attend a rally
More than five thousand people attended the rally.
a political rally
He gave a short speech at a political rally.
a rally for someone
They organized a rally for the nurses on strike.
a rally driver
A rally driver needs quick reflexes on gravel roads.
stage a rally
Investors staged a rally in the last hour of trading.

Synonyms and how they differ

demonstration
A demonstration is usually a protest march or gathering against something, while a rally more often shows support for a person or cause.
march
A march involves people walking from place to place, but a rally is the gathering itself, often in one spot.
meeting
A meeting is smaller and more private; a rally is large, public, and usually outdoors.

Word family

rally verb
To gather together in support of something, or to recover strength.
rallies noun
The plural form, used for more than one event.

Commonly confused: a rally or riot? a rally or ally?

a rally vs riot

A riot is violent and unlawful, while a rally is an organized, usually peaceful gathering.

a rally vs ally

An ally is a country or person that supports you; a rally is the event where support is shown.

Practice

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