Meaning & use
rallies
Last updated
“rallies” is a form of “rally”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nouncountable
Public gatherings where many people come together to support a cause, protest, or hear a speaker.
Grammar: Countable; use a/an or a number: 'a rally', 'three rallies'.
Patterns
- a rally for something
- a rally against something
- hold a rally
Thousands attended the rallies across the capital to demand climate action.
The candidate spoke at three rallies in one day.
Police kept order at the peaceful rallies.
nouncountablesport
In sports, a long exchange of hits or shots between players before a point is won.
Grammar: Countable; often used in tennis, badminton, and table tennis.
Patterns
- win a rally
- a long rally
- during a rally
The crowd cheered after a 30-shot rally.
She stayed calm even in the longest rallies.
He lost the point after a short rally.
nouncountablesport
A car race on public roads or rough ground, not on a track.
Grammar: Countable; often used in names of events: 'the Safari Rally'.
Patterns
- a rally driver
- compete in a rally
- a rally car
He drives a rally car on mountain roads.
The team entered three rallies this season.
Rallies test both speed and navigation.
nouncountablefinance
A recovery in price or value after a fall, especially in markets.
Grammar: Countable; common in financial news.
Patterns
- a rally in something
- a sharp rally
- a rally against the dollar
Oil prices staged a rally after the announcement.
The stock market saw a late rally.
Analysts expect rallies in tech shares.
verbtransitive or intransitive
To come together again in support or to recover strength after a setback.
Grammar: Can be intransitive ('The team rallied') or transitive with around/behind: 'They rallied around her.'
Patterns
- rally around someone
- rally behind someone
- rally to do something
The community rallied to help the flood victims.
Supporters rallied behind the coach after the loss.
She rallied the team with a short speech.
Word forms
| base form | rally |
|---|---|
| third person singular | rallies |
| past tense | rallied |
| past participle | rallied |
| -ing form | rallying |
| plural | rallies |
Common combinations
- hold a rally
- The group will hold a rally in the park.
- a political rally
- She gave a speech at a political rally.
- rally around
- The whole office rallied around him during his illness.
- a rally in prices
- There was a rally in gold prices yesterday.
- attend a rally
- Over 5,000 people attended the rally.
Synonyms and how they differ
- demonstration
- A demonstration is usually a protest; a rally can be supportive or celebratory.
- gathering
- A gathering is any informal meeting; a rally is larger and has a purpose.
- recovery
- Recovery is a general return to health or strength; a rally is a short-term upward move in prices.
Opposites
Word family
- rallying noun
- The act of bringing people together for support.
- rallier noun
- A person who organizes or leads a rally.
Commonly confused: rallies or really?
rallies vs really
Really means 'in fact' or 'very'; rallies is a plural noun or verb form of rally.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'rallies' correctly?
Choose one answer.
With a plural subject 'fans', the verb is 'rally' (no -s). 'Rallies' is correct for he/she/it or as a plural noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “rallies”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.