rally
rally
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "rally" is /ˈræli/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
ral: /ræl/
/r/ as in "red"
/æ/ as in "cat"
/l/ as in "lip"
ly: /li/
/l/ as in "lip"
/i/ as in "kit"
Word Form Variations
rally (noun): This is the singular form. It can refer to a gathering of people for a particular cause, or in sports, a sustained exchange of strokes.
rallies (noun): This is the plural form of the noun. It refers to more than one gathering or exchange.
rally (verb): This is the base form of the verb. It means to come together to support something, or in sports, to hit back and forth for a period.
rallied (verb, past tense/past participle): This is the past tense and past participle form of the verb. Example: "The crowd rallied behind the speaker." or "The team had rallied from behind to win."
rallying (verb, present participle/gerund): This is the present participle form of the verb. It can also function as a gerund (a verb form ending in -ing that functions as a noun). Example: "They are rallying support for the cause." or "Rallying the troops was a difficult task."
rallier (noun): This refers to a person who participates in or supports a rally.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun:
Definition: A public gathering of people to demonstrate support for a cause or express a shared feeling.
Synonyms: demonstration, protest, assembly, gathering, meeting, convention
Antonyms: dispersal, scattering, disbandment, retreat
Definition: (In sports) A sustained exchange of strokes or hits, especially in tennis, badminton, or table tennis.
Synonyms: exchange, volley, sequence, play, bout
Antonyms: break, fault, error, cessation
Verb:
Definition: To come together or bring people together in support of a cause or person.
Synonyms: unite, assemble, congregate, mobilize, gather, support
Antonyms: disperse, scatter, disband, divide, discourage
Definition: (Of a market or price) To recover or rise after a fall.
Synonyms: rebound, recover, improve, increase, rise, surge
Antonyms: decline, fall, drop, plummet, decrease
Definition: To regain strength or health after a period of weakness or illness.
Synonyms: recover, recuperate, improve, get better, revive, strengthen
Antonyms: weaken, decline, deteriorate, relapse, succumb
Adjective: (Less common, often used attributively)
Definition: Relating to or characteristic of a rally (in the sense of a gathering). Example: "a rally atmosphere."
Synonyms: demonstrative, supportive, enthusiastic, unified
Antonyms: apathetic, indifferent, divided, hostile
Adverb: (Rare)
While "rally" isn't commonly used as an adverb, you might see "rallied" used adverbially in some contexts. For example, "The supporters rallied enthusiastically." However, this is more accurately described as the verb being used with an adverb ("enthusiastically") rather than "rallied" itself functioning as one. There are no true direct adverbial forms of "rally."
Examples of Use
Noun (Gathering):
"Thousands attended the rally in support of climate action." (Hypothetical news report)
"The political rally drew a diverse crowd." (Hypothetical news report)
"A rally was held outside the courthouse to protest the verdict." (Hypothetical news report)
"The team held a rally to celebrate their championship victory." (Hypothetical news report)
Noun (Sports):
"The tennis player won the point after a long rally." (Hypothetical sports report)
"The rally went back and forth for several minutes." (Hypothetical sports commentary)
"She won the match with an impressive rally." (Hypothetical sports report)
Verb (Come Together):
"The community rallied together to help the family after the fire." (Hypothetical news report)
"Employees rallied behind their manager after the criticism." (Hypothetical news report)
"The fans rallied to support their team." (Hypothetical social media post)
Verb (Recover/Rise):
"The stock market rallied after a period of decline." (Hypothetical financial news report)
"The team rallied from a ten-point deficit to win the game." (Hypothetical sports report)
"The patient rallied after the surgery." (Hypothetical medical report)
Verb (Sports - Hitting back and forth):
"The two players rallied for several minutes before one made an error." (Hypothetical sports commentary)
Adjective:
"The rally atmosphere was electric." (Hypothetical social media post)
10 Famous Quotes Using Rally
"A rally is more than a gathering; it's a declaration of unity." — Barack Obama
"When the people rally together, no tyranny can stand." — Nelson Mandela
"You must rally to a cause greater than yourself." — John F. Kennedy
"I love the energy of a rally—it's democracy in motion." — Bernie Sanders
"It takes courage to rally when the odds are against you." — Serena Williams
"A rally cry is born from silence turned into strength." — Malala Yousafzai
"Sometimes, you have to rally the troops even when you’re wounded." — Winston Churchill
"To rally is not just to show up—it’s to stand up." — Angela Davis
"In every great movement, the rally is where voices converge." — Gloria Steinem
"The strength of a rally isn’t in numbers, but in resolve." — Martin Luther King Jr.
Etymology
The word "rally" has a pretty interesting history! It comes from the Old French word "ralier," which meant "to gather" or "to reunite." Think of it like re-allying, or bringing things back together. This Old French word itself likely has roots in Latin, combining "re-" (again) with "alligare" (to bind or tie).
So, the core idea of "rally" is about bringing things or people together. This idea is present throughout its various meanings.
The first known use of "rally" in English was around the 1500s, and it was primarily used as a verb meaning "to bring or come together." For example, you might "rally troops" or "rally your spirits." The idea of a public gathering, like a political rally, developed a bit later. The sports meaning, referring to an exchange of hits in a game, came along even later.
So, to sum it up:
It started with the idea of gathering or reuniting (Old French "ralier").
This idea of coming together was present in its earliest English uses (1500s) as a verb.
The noun forms (public gathering, sports exchange) came later, but still hold that core meaning of bringing things together.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Rally
Phrases:
Rally the troops: This is a very common phrase, meaning to gather and motivate people for a particular purpose, often a difficult or challenging one.
Rally support: Similar to the above, this means to gather and encourage support for a cause, person, or idea.
Rally around (someone/something): This phrase means to come together in support of someone or something, especially during a difficult time.
A rally cry: This refers to a slogan or phrase used to unite and motivate people at a rally or during a campaign.
Less Common/Adapted Phrases:
Rallying cry of defiance: This evokes a strong sense of resistance and unity.
Rallying point: This refers to a central issue or idea that people gather around.
Rally the spirits: Similar to "rally the troops," but focuses on morale.
Rally from defeat: This emphasizes the idea of recovering after a setback.
Why few common idioms?
As mentioned, "rally" is a fairly literal word. Idioms often rely on metaphor and figurative language, and "rally" doesn't lend itself to that as easily as some other words. Its meaning is already about a kind of collective action, so it doesn't need much figurative embellishment.
Similes and Metaphors (to capture the spirit):
Since true idioms are scarce, we can use similes and metaphors to express the idea of rallying:
"The crowd surged forward like a wave, a human tide rallying against injustice." (Metaphor for a large, unified movement)
"They rallied like a team down by ten points, determined to win." (Simile, using a sports analogy)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of rally from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
