hold a protest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hold a protest" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
You might use it to describe a situation in which a group of people are organizing and participating in a demonstration or rally to express their displeasure with a particular policy or issue, such as, "My colleagues and I are planning to hold a protest next week to draw attention to the need for better workplace safety standards."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The protesters are expected to hold a protest rally in central Athens later today, along with colleagues from the coast guard and fire service.

The Guardian - Business

"One, hold a protest in Manhattan.

The New Yorker

Good luck trying to hold a protest or picnic in these corporate "town squares".

The Guardian - Tech

"This will make it virtually impossible to hold a protest unless you have rich backers".

The Guardian

Southern passengers plan to hold a protest at London Victoria on Monday.

The Guardian

Hundreds of people did hold a protest on Saturday, sponsored by Greenpeace.

The New York Times

Hundreds tried to hold a protest just a few miles from the square, in the Damascus suburbs.

The New York Times

There are some people still talking about continuing their fight and to hold a protest in June".

The New York Times

Ms. Zhong's original plan when she flew to Beijing was to apply for a permit to hold a protest.

The New York Times

Their request to hold a protest today, on the annual national student day, was rejected by the government.

The New York Times

The conflict between the governor and the museum staff ended with no resolution, and the staff threatening to hold a protest.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Specify the location and purpose of the protest using prepositional phrases to provide clarity, such as "hold a protest" outside the city hall.

Common error

Avoid using "make a protest" when you mean organizing a public event. While you can "make a formal protest" (which usually means a verbal or written objection), the act of gathering people in a physical space is always described as "hold a protest" or "stage a protest".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hold a protest" functions as a transitive verb collocation. In this structure, "hold" acts as the governing verb that takes "a protest" as its direct object. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is used to denote the physical hosting or execution of a collective action. It typically appears in the active voice but can be transformed into the passive voice (e.g., "a protest was held").

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Academia

8%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "hold a protest" is an essential and grammatically sound collocation in the English language. Ludwig AI shows that it is a high-frequency phrase, particularly within the News & Media category, used by the world's most prestigious publications. Whether you are writing a news report, an academic paper or a general blog post, this phrase remains the most natural way to describe the act of organizing a public demonstration. While it is highly interchangeable with alternatives like "stage a protest" or "organize a protest", it stands as the most neutral and widely accepted choice for writers seeking clarity and professionalism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stage a protest

Implies a more deliberate or dramatic execution of the event.

organize a demonstration

Focuses on the logistical planning and the specific nature of the crowd gathering.

conduct a protest

Provides a more formal and systematic tone to the action.

hold a rally

Specifically refers to a protest characterized by speeches and high-energy gathering.

mount a protest

Suggests building up momentum or launching a significant effort.

carry out a protest

Emphasizes the execution of a pre-planned action.

launch a protest

Usually refers to the beginning of a sustained period of opposition.

lead a protest

Shifts the focus to the individuals or organizations directing the event.

host a protest

Implies the provision of a venue or organizational framework for the event.

stage a sit-in

A more specific type of protest involving physical occupation of a space.

FAQs

How do I use "hold a protest" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe the organization of an event, for example: "The environmental group plans to "hold a protest" against the new pipeline next Tuesday."

What is the difference between "hold a protest" and "stage a protest"?

While very similar, "stage a protest" often implies a more theatrical or high-profile event designed for maximum media attention, whereas "hold a protest" is the neutral standard.

Can I say "organize a protest" instead?

Yes, "organize a protest" is a perfect alternative that highlights the preparation and coordination involved before the actual event takes place.

Is it correct to say "conduct a protest"?

Using "conduct a protest" is grammatically correct and often used in more formal reports or legal contexts to describe the management of the event.