As a noun, a rally is a large public meeting to support a cause, or a sudden improvement in something like health or prices. As a verb, it means to come together to support someone or something, or to recover strength or position.
It comes from French “rallier,” meaning “to reunite, bring together again,” from “re-” (again) and “allier” (to ally). The sense of public meetings and political support grew in the 19th century.
The idea behind “rally” is not just gathering, but re‑gathering—pulling scattered people or strength back together. That’s why the same word can describe protesters filling a square, a team making a comeback, or even a stock market suddenly rising.
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