Verb

Infinitive to protest

Third person singular protests

Simple past protested

Past participle protested

Present participle protesting

to protest (third-person singular simple present protests, present participle protesting, simple past and past participle protested)

1. (intransitive) to make a strong objection

   How dare you, I protest!

   The public took to the streets to protest over the planned change to the law.

   • 2009, Wikipedia: Cuba:

     U.S. and European protested against Spanish conduct in Cuba.

2. (transitive) to affirm something

   I protest my innocence.

3. (transitive, chiefly North American) to object to.

   They protested the demolition of the school.

Protest expresses relatively overt reaction to events or situations: sometimes in favor, though more often opposed. Protesters may organize a protest as a way of publicly and forcefully making their opinions heard in an attempt to influence public opinion or government policy, or may undertake direct action in an attempt to directly enact desired changes themselves.

Self-expression can, in theory, in practice or in appearance, be restricted by governmental policy, economic circumstances, religious orthodoxy, social structures, or media monopoly. When such restrictions occur, opposition may spill over into other areas such as culture, the streets or emigration.

A protest can itself sometimes be the subject of a counter-protest. In such a case, counter-protesters demonstrate their support for the person, policy, action, etc. that is the subject of the original protest.