rally
noun
Rally — the dramatic gathering of strength for one last, renewed effort
Definition
The feat of mustering strength for a renewed effort; "he singled to start a rally in the 9th inning"; "he feared the rallying of their troops for a counterattack"
In depth
A rally is the feat of mustering strength for a renewed effort, often after a period of decline, exhaustion, or apparent defeat. The word carries genuine drama, the sense of a tide turning unexpectedly, whether in a baseball game's late innings, a stock market's recovery, or a patient's surprising return to health.
Origin
The word descends from French rallier, to reassemble or regroup, formed from re- (again) and allier (to ally or join). Its original military sense, describing scattered troops regrouping for renewed battle, explains the enduring drama the word carries even in entirely peaceful contexts, as though every rally, whatever its arena, faintly echoes that ancient image of a broken force gathering itself back together.
Usage examples
"He singled to start a rally in the bottom of the ninth, and the crowd, already half-gone, surged back to its feet."
"Markets staged an unexpected rally just as analysts had begun predicting total collapse."
"Doctors had warned the family to prepare for the worst, but she rallied, against every prediction, for nearly another year."
How to use it
Rally is widely useful across sports, finance, and medical or personal narrative, particularly powerful in moments of dramatic reversal, where a situation that seemed lost suddenly shows renewed strength. It also names, distinctly, a large public political gathering, a meaning writers should keep separate through context.
Related concepts
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