Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: French
Origin: protester, from Latin protestari, from testari 'to speak as a witness'

protest

2 verb
     
pro‧test2
1 [intransitive and transitive] to come together to publicly express disapproval or opposition to something
protest against/at/about
Thousands of people blocked the street, protesting against the new legislation.
protest something American English
Students protested the decision.
2 [intransitive and transitive] to say that you strongly disagree with or are angry about something because you think it is wrong or unfair:
'I don't see why I should take the blame for this!' she protested.
protest that
Clive protested that he hadn't been given enough time to do everything.
3 [transitive] to state very firmly that something is true, when other people do not believe you
protest (that)
Sarah protested that she wasn't Mick's girlfriend.
Years later, he is still protesting his innocence.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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