revolution

noun

rev·​o·​lu·​tion ˌre-və-ˈlü-shən 

1

a

: a sudden, radical, or complete change

This new theory could cause a revolution in elementary education.

… a sixteenth-century revolution in trade and production, accompanied by a dramatic increase in population; expanded agriculture, lumbering, and manufacturing …

—Joseph A. Amato

b

often Revolution : a fundamental change in political organization

especially : the usually violent overthrow or renunciation of one government or ruler and the substitution of another by the governed

started a revolution

The king knew that there was a threat of revolution.

the American Revolution

… though [John] Adams was on the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence, his son was still a boy during the revolution.

—Sara Georgini

c

: activity or movement designed to effect fundamental changes in the socioeconomic situation

a social revolution

see also green revolution

d

: a fundamental change in the way of thinking about or visualizing something : a change of paradigm

the Copernican revolution

The rediscovery of classical scientific knowledge in medieval universities created communities of scientists who contributed to the scientific revolution in the 16th and 17th centuries.

—Bradford Vivian

She said that this composer had made a complete revolution in music and was burying the old masters one by one.

—Mark Twain

e

: a changeover in use or preference especially in technology

the computer revolution

the foreign car revolution

see also industrial revolution

2

a(1)

: the action by a celestial body of going round in an orbit or elliptical course

the revolution of the earth around the sun

also : apparent movement of such a body around the earth

(2)

: the time taken by a celestial body to make a complete cycle in its orbit

Saturn's 30-year revolution around the Sun …

—Seth Borenstein

(3)

: the rotation of a celestial body on its axis

Venus makes one full revolution about its axis every 243 earth days.

b

: completion of a course (as of years)

also : the period made by the regular succession of a measure of time or by a succession of similar events

A magical nonfiction book that takes readers on an annual journey through the revolution of seasons …

—Kimberly Filmore

c(1)

: a progressive motion of a body around an axis so that any line of the body parallel to the axis returns to its initial position while remaining parallel to the axis in transit and usually at a constant distance from it

(2)

: motion of any figure about a center or axis

revolution of a right triangle about one of its legs generates a cone

(3)

: rotation sense 1b

This motor operates at a speed of 5,000 revolutions per minute.

Did you know?

Revolution and Revolt

Revolution and revolt have a shared origin, both ultimately going back to the Latin revolvere “to revolve, roll back.” When revolution first appeared in English in the 14th century, it referred to the movement of a celestial body in orbit; that sense was extended to “a progressive motion of a body around an axis,” “completion of a course,” and other senses suggesting regularity of motion or a predictable return to an original position. At virtually the same time, the word developed a sharply different meaning, namely, ”a sudden radical, or complete change,” apparently from the idea of reversal of direction implicit in the Latin verb. Revolt , which initially meant “to renounce allegiance,” grew from the same idea of “rolling back,” in this case from a prior bond of loyalty.

Synonyms of revolution

• rotation
• curve
• spin

Choose the Right Synonym for revolution

rebellion, revolution, uprising, revolt, insurrection, mutiny mean an outbreak against authority.

rebellion implies an open formidable resistance that is often unsuccessful.

open rebellion against the officers

revolution applies to a successful rebellion resulting in a major change (as in government).

a political revolution that toppled the monarchy

uprising implies a brief, limited, and often immediately ineffective rebellion.

quickly put down the uprising

revolt and insurrection imply an armed uprising that quickly fails or succeeds.

a revolt by the Young Turks that surprised party leaders

an insurrection of oppressed laborers

mutiny applies to group insubordination or insurrection especially against naval authority.

a mutiny led by the ship's cook

Examples of revolution in a Sentence

The group started a revolution.

The king knew that there was a threat of revolution.

This new theory could cause a revolution in elementary education.

the revolution of the Earth around the Sun

The period of revolution of the Earth around the Sun is equal to one year.

The Earth makes one revolution on its axis in about 24 hours.

This motor operates at a speed of 5,000 revolutions per minute.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Portable series itself would eventually branch out from hardcovers and become part of the paperback revolution that put cheap editions of classic literature into the hands of millions. —Michael Gorra, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025

The personal flight revolution is no longer a fantasy. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2025

The movie captured Cheney’s life, from his meteoric rise, to his mastering of the levers of power, to his role in the Republican revolution. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025

The People’s Republic of China, founded as a beacon of Communism, betrayed the ideals of its initial formation and revolution. —Shadi Hamid, Time, 3 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English revolucioun "rotation of the heavenly spheres around the earth, cyclical recurrence, completed motion around an axis, change of fortune," borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French revolucion "return of a celestial body to its point of departure, recurrence," borrowed from Medieval Latin revolūtiōn-, revolūtiō, going back to Late Latin, "a rolling back, return, recurrence," from Latin revolū-, variant stem of revolvere "to roll back to a starting point, (passive) travel in a circular course, return to a starting point" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at revolve

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a(1)

Phrases Containing revolution

• green revolution
• industrial revolution
• pre-revolution
• solid of revolution
• surface of revolution

Rhymes for revolution

• absolution
• allocution
• attribution
• comminution
• constitution
• contribution
• convolution
• destitution
• devolution
• diminution
• dissolution
• distribution

Kids Definition

revolution

noun

rev·​o·​lu·​tion ˌrev-ə-ˈlü-shən 

1

a

: the action by a heavenly body of going round in an orbit

b

: the time taken to complete one orbit

2

: completion of a course (as of years) : cycle

3

a

: the action or motion of revolving : a turning round a center or axis : rotation

b

: a single complete turn (as of a wheel or a phonograph record)

4

a

: a sudden, extreme, or complete change

b

: a basic change in government

especially : the overthrow of one government and the substitution of another by the governed