C1noun2K

Rally

UK /["/ˈræli/"]/US /["/ˈræli/"]/

Definition

a large public meeting, especially one held to support a particular idea or political party

In simple words: A gathering of people to support something or someone, or a strong recovery in sports or finance.

Examples

  • The political rally attracted thousands of supporters in the city square.
  • After a slow start, the team staged an impressive rally to win the match.
  • The stock market saw a significant rally after months of decline.
  • Fans gathered at the rally to listen to their favorite band perform live.
  • The rally race through the desert challenged drivers with tough terrain.
  • In tennis, a rally consists of a sequence of shots exchanged between players.

Usage notes

Used in contexts like politics, sports, or team events. It can sound formal when referring to organized events, but it's also common in everyday language about sports comebacks.

Grammar pattern

rally + object

Memory hint

Think of a group of people 'rallying' together like a crowd at a sports game cheering for their team.

Collocations

  • big
  • huge
  • large
  • have
  • hold
  • stage
  • take place
  • end
  • call for something
  • at a/​the rally
  • rally against
  • rally for
  • club
  • international
  • motor
  • hold
  • organize
  • compete in
  • circuit
  • driver
  • driving
  • on a/​the rally
  • long
  • short
  • play
  • win
  • lose
  • bear-market
  • market
  • stock-market
  • mount
  • stage
  • rally in

Synonyms

  • recovery

Antonyms

  • disband
  • scatter

Common mistakes

  • 'Rally' is often confused with 'rallied' — remember it's an ongoing action, not just past.
  • 'Rally' is incorrectly used as a noun when it should be a verb, e.g., 'to rally support'.
  • Some learners may confuse it with 'rallying cry' leading to redundant use.