avenge

verb

ə-ˈvenj 

avenged; avenging

transitive verb

1

: to take vengeance for or on behalf of

vowed to avenge their murdered father

2

: to exact satisfaction for (a wrong) by punishing the wrongdoer

was determined to avenge the assault

avenger noun

Synonyms

• revenge
• retaliate
• punish

Examples of avenge in a Sentence

The brothers vowed to avenge the death of their father.

They vowed to avenge their father by capturing and punishing his killer.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22, denying the Chiefs their third-straight Super Bowl and avenging their Super Bowl XLVII loss to Kansas City just two years earlier. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 19 July 2025

Merced played Dina, Ellie's friend and eventual love interest, who joins her on a journey to Seattle to avenge (SPOILER ALERT) Joel (Pedro Pascal). —Kalhan Rosenblatt, NBC news, 15 July 2025

The title triumph avenged their lone loss, a narrow 24-17 road defeat to the Exiles on June 1. —Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 2 July 2025

That came after Israel launched deadly airstrikes against Iran, which the latter swore to avenge. —Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 13 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French avenger, from a- (from Latin ad-) + venger to avenge — more at vengeance

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing avenge

• avenge oneself

Rhymes for avenge

• revenge

Kids Definition

avenge

verb

ə-ˈvenj 

avenged; avenging

: to take vengeance for (an action) or on behalf of (a person)

avenger noun