Rally — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈra-lē/ ral·ly

Meaning & Definition of Rally

Rally (verb)

  1. to muster for a common purpose
  2. to recall to order
  3. to arouse for action
  4. to attack with raillery, banter

Rally (noun)

  1. a mustering of scattered forces to renew an effort
  2. a summoning up of strength or courage after weakness or dejection
  3. a recovery of price after a decline

Rally (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an act of gathering forces together to renew or attempt an effort

    "in a last-minute rally the Confederates at Bull Run were able to turn a near defeat into an upset victory"

    similar: marshaling, mobilization, rallying, call to arms
    related: call, call-up, summons, convening, convocation, muster, mustering

  2. a mass meeting for the purpose of displaying or arousing support for a cause or person

    "a huge rally for the candidate on the eve of the election"

    similar: demo (British), demonstration
    related: assembly, conference, congress, convention, convocation, council, gathering, march, protest, sit-down, sit-in, strike, counterdemonstration, counterprotest, counterrally

  3. the process or period of gradually regaining one's health and strength

    "the doctors were amazed at the sick child's unexpected rally, which was apparently due to the new drug"

    similar: comeback, convalescence, healing, mending, recovery, recuperation, rehab, rehabilitation, snapback
    related: resuscitation, revival, survival
    near: decline, degeneration, deterioration, fading, failing, languishing, sinking, wasting (away), weakening, wilting, withering, worsening, regression, relapse

Rally (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to assemble and make ready for action

    "rallied the Red Cross workers to deal with the devastating earthquake"

    similar: marshal, mobilize, muster
    related: arrange, group, line up, order, organize, call (up), convene, summon, activate, collect, round up
    opposite: demob (chiefly British), demobilize
    near: disarrange, disorder, disorganize, disrupt, disturb, deactivate, dismiss, break up, disband, dissolve, split (up)

  2. to become healthy and strong again after illness or weakness

    "despite the best care that medicine could provide, the elderly woman never really rallied from her fractured hip"

    similar: come back, convalesce, gain, heal, mend, pull round (chiefly British), recoup, recover, recuperate, snap back
    related: come around, come round, come to, improve, pick up, revive, cheer (up), perk (up), pull through, survive, recruit
    near: ail, collapse, come down, sicken, decline, degenerate, deteriorate, fade, fail, languish, sink, waste (away), weaken, wilt, wither, worsen, regress, relapse

  3. to regain a former or normal state

    "after wavering a moment on the balance beam, she quickly rallied and finished with a fine dismount"

    similar: bounce (back), come back, rebound, recover, snap back, make a comeback
    related: reanimate, revitalize, revive
    near: decline, fail, worsen

  4. to make fun of in a good-natured way

    "his friends rallied him for missing an easy putt"

    similar: chaff, jive, joke, josh, kid, razz, rib, ride, roast, tease, goof on (slang), take the mickey out of (British)
    related: banter, fool, fun, string along, jest, quip, wisecrack, gag, jape, jolly, yuk (slang)

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Rally

The most common words with a similar meaning to Rally:

British: demo, take the mickey out of
Chiefly British: pull round
Slang: goof on
marshaling, mobilization, rallying, demonstration, comeback, convalescence, healing, mending, recovery, recuperation, rehab, rehabilitation, snapback, call to arms, marshal, mobilize, muster, come back, convalesce, gain, heal, mend, recoup, recover, recuperate, snap back, bounce (back), rebound, make a comeback, chaff, jive, joke, josh, kid, razz, rib, ride, roast, tease

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Rally

Words with the opposite meaning of Rally:

demob, demobilize

Related Words for Rally

call, call-up, summons, convening, convocation, mustering, assembly, conference, congress, convention, council, gathering, march, protest, sit-down, sit-in, strike, counterdemonstration, counterprotest, counterrally, resuscitation, revival, survival, arrange, group, line up, order, organize, call (up), convene

Near Antonyms of Rally

decline, degeneration, deterioration, fading, failing, languishing, sinking, wasting (away), weakening, wilting, withering, worsening, regression, relapse, disarrange, disorder, disorganize, disrupt, disturb, deactivate, dismiss, break up, disband, dissolve, split (up), ail, collapse, come down, sicken, degenerate

Word Forms of Rally

Inflections: rallied, rallying, rallies

Origin & Etymology of Rally

French rallier, from Old French ralier, from re- + alier to unite ally

First known use: 1599t

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Rally

Words & Phrases Containing Rally

rally against, rally around, rally for/behind, rally round, rally the troops, pep rally, youth rally

Frequently Asked Questions about Rally

What does "Rally" mean?

"Rally" means to muster for a common purpose. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to muster for a common purpose. It has 7 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Rally"?

Other words for "Rally" include marshaling, mobilization, rallying, demo, demonstration, comeback, convalescence and healing. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Rally" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Rally"?

There are 101 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Rally". Common alternatives include marshaling, mobilization, rallying, demo, demonstration, comeback, convalescence, healing, mending and recovery.

What is the opposite of "Rally"?

Antonyms of "Rally" include demob and demobilize. Near antonyms include decline, degeneration, deterioration and fading.

How do you use "Rally" in a sentence?

Examples of "Rally" in a sentence: "in a last-minute rally the Confederates at Bull Run were able to turn a near defeat into an upset victory"; "a huge rally for the candidate on the eve of the election"; "the doctors were amazed at the sick child's unexpected rally, which was apparently due to the new drug".

Is "Rally" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Rally" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Rally" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Rally" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Rally"?

"Rally" is pronounced /ˈra-lē/ and divided into syllables as ral·ly.