Etymology From Middle French rallier (French rallier), from Old French ralier, from Latin prefix re- + ad + ligare (“to bind; to ally”).
1
A public gathering or mass meeting that is not mainly a protest and is organized to inspire enthusiasm for a cause.
a campaign rally
an election rally
2
A protest or demonstration for or against something, but often with speeches and often without marching, especially in North America.
a political rally
The EDL said Saturday’s rally was aimed at highlighting what it describes as a “continued increase in Islamic terrorism” linked to Birmingham.2017 April 8, Nicola Slawson, “Birmingham mosque counters EDL rally with ‘best of British’ tea party”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 06 Jul 2019:
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Mortenson, who asked to use a pseudonym for this story, says she has been attending rallies and vigils in her home state to regain her optimism, but she’s finding it tough.2025 March 3, Nico Lang, ““Simply Trying to Exist”: How Trans Americans Are Navigating the Confusion and Chaos of Trump’s Passport Policy”, in Them, archived from the original on 13 Mar 2025:
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Ball games, Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports, Squash, Tennis A sequence of strokes between serving and scoring a point.
Table tennis; badminton; table tennis; badminton
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Hobbies, Lifestyle, Motor racing, Racing, Sports An event in which competitors drive through a series of timed special stages at intervals. The winner is the driver who completes all stages with the shortest cumulative time.
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Business, Finance, Trading A recovery after a decline in prices (said of the market, stocks, etc.)
Etymology From Middle French rallier (French rallier), from Old French ralier, from Latin prefix re- + ad + ligare (“to bind; to ally”).
1
To collect, and reduce to order, as troops dispersed or thrown into confusion; to gather again; to reunite.
2
To come into orderly arrangement; to renew order, or united effort, as troops scattered or put to flight; to assemble.
Innumerable parts of matter chanced just then to rally together, and to form themselves into this new world.1664, John Tillotson, “Sermon I. The Wisdom of Being Religious. Job XXVIII. 28.”, in The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury: […], London: […] B. Aylmer, […]; [a]nd W. Rogers, […], published 1696, →OCLC:
The Grecians rally, and their powers unite.1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
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The USA were dominant but, to England’s immense credit, they repeatedly rallied, refusing to fold. Indeed they could conceivably have gone in level at the interval had Naeher not made an acrobatic, stretching, fingertip save to divert Walsh’s 25-yard thunderbolt as it whizzed unerringly on its apparently inexorable trajectory towards the top corner.2019 July 2, Louise Taylor, “Alex Morgan heads USA past England into Women’s World Cup final”, in The Guardian:
3
Ambitransitive To collect one's vital powers or forces; to regain health or consciousness.
Norbourne was almost thankful for any excuse that enabled him to avoid seeing Lady Marchmont. In vain he sought to rally his spirits, and to conceal his depression; but the idea of Ethel mocked his efforts to forget.1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, pages 40–41:
The market fell this morning but rallied later in the day.
Bitcoin has still plunged in value by almost two-thirds this year, it should be said. But it has also rallied by about 10% since the downwards lurch when FTX filed for bankruptcy in mid-November, which is extraordinary.2022 December 14, Nils Pratley, “Bitcoin has rallied. What are crypto’s true believers still smoking?”, in The Guardian:
Etymology From French railler. See rail (“to scoff”).
1
To tease; to chaff good-humouredly.
But you must not rally him on the subject Sir Oliver—'tis a tender Point I assure you though He has been married only seven months.1777, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for Scandal, II.iii:
Honeycomb […] rallies me after his way upon my country life.1711 August 10 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et al.], “MONDAY, July 31, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 132; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume II, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC:
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Strephon had long confeſs'd his am'rous Pain, / VVhich gay Corinna railly'd vvith Diſdain: […]1713 (indicated as 1714), [John] Gay, “Book I”, in The Fan. A Poem. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 5:
So the athletic Magnolia instantly impounded the little Lieutenant, and began to rally him, in the sort of slang she delighted in, with plenty of merriment and malice upon his tendre for Miss Chattesworth, and made the gallant young gentleman blush and occasionally smile, and bow a great deal, and take some snuff.1863, J[oseph] Sheridan Le Fanu, “In Which the Sun Sets, and the Merry-making is Kept Up by Candle-light in the King’s House, and Lily Receives a Warning Which She Does Not Comprehend”, in The House by the Church-yard. […], volume I, London: Tinsley, Brothers, […], →OCLC, page 246:
rally
noun
Etymology From French railler. See rail (“to scoff”).