revenge

1 of 2

verb

re·​venge ri-ˈvenj How to pronounce revenge (audio)
revenged; revenging

transitive verb

1
: to avenge (oneself or another) usually by retaliating in kind or degree
2
: to inflict injury in return for
revenge an insult
revenger noun

revenge

2 of 2

noun

1
: a desire for vengeance or retribution
motivated by revenge
2
: an act or instance of retaliating in order to get even
plotted her revenge
3
: an opportunity for getting satisfaction
sought revenge through a rematch

Examples of revenge in a Sentence

Verb a man who took matters into his own hands and revenged the death of his brother Noun She swore that she would have her revenge. She wants revenge against her enemies. The bombing was in revenge for the assassination of their leader. The team is seeking revenge for the loss earlier in the season.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Lincoln-Way West 12-3 (4) Connor Studer lifts Warriors to revenge win over Plainfield North, fifth place at Tiger Classic. Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 18 Apr. 2023 On the day of the wedding, Pap’s ghost arrives, under a gingham tablecloth, to pin the crime on Rev and spur Juicy to revenge. Jesse Green, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2023 What a leaker or whistleblower’s motivation is varies from altruism and transparency to revenge and ruin. Anne Marie Malecha, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2023 Call it revenge inflation spending. Rachel Wolfe, WSJ, 24 Jan. 2023 How will revenge glamour be best served? Leena Kim, Town & Country, 19 Apr. 2021 Can Dak lead the Cowboys to revenge and secure a divisional round spot? Chris Ilenstine, Chicago Tribune, 16 Jan. 2023 At the back of the book, the index provides a space for reference—and sometimes revenge. Wsj Books Staff, WSJ, 11 Feb. 2022
Noun
The film, about a musician who comes back from the dead to get revenge against the gang who murdered him and his fiancée, was completed using a stunt double and digital effects. Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 18 Mar. 2024 The prosecution believes Shi murdered David Lin’s and Huang’s sons out of revenge. Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024 Real Madrid will be looking for revenge after suffering a 5-1 aggregate drubbing at the hands of City in last season’s semifinals, as Pep Guardiola’s side went on to win the title for the first time in the club’s history. Matias Grez, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024 In Hugh Wilson's 1996 comedy, Diane Keaton, Bette Midler, and Goldie Hawn play three college friends who reunite and conspire to get revenge on their ex-husbands, all of whom left them for younger women. EW.com, 14 Mar. 2024 The original graphic novel is deeply meaningful for so many, and the character, his journey and his need for revenge has inspired a canon of films for the last three decades. Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 14 Mar. 2024 Bill Skarsgard leads the film, which centers on a man who is murdered, alongside his fiancée but is granted supernatural powers to seek revenge. Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024 Many observers believed the orcas were attacking their boats, perhaps taking revenge on fishermen. Sallie Tisdale, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2024 When that woman dies by suicide, her daughter seeks revenge. The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'revenge.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French revenger, revengier, from re- + venger to avenge — more at vengeance

Noun

Middle French revenge, revenche, from revengier, revenchier to revenge

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of revenge was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near revenge

Cite this Entry

“Revenge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/revenge. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

revenge

1 of 2 verb
re·​venge ri-ˈvenj How to pronounce revenge (audio)
revenged; revenging
1
: to get even for a wrong done
revenge myself on my enemies
2
: to give injury in return for
revenge an insult
revenger noun

revenge

2 of 2 noun
1
: a desire to pay back injury for injury
2
: an act or instance of revenging
3
: a chance for getting satisfaction
revengeful
-fəl
adjective
revengefully
-fə-lē
adverb
revengefulness noun

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