revel

verb rev·el \ ˈre-vəl \

|Updated on: 8 Aug 2018

Examples: revel in a Sentence

Definition of revel

reveled or revelled; reveling or revelling play \ˈre-və-liŋ, ˈrev-liŋ\

intransitive verb

1 : to take part in a revel : carouse

2 : to take intense pleasure or satisfaction

reveled in the quiet after everyone had gone

See revel defined for English-language learners

See revel defined for kids

Examples of revel in a Sentence

reveling all night is not conducive to a productive next day at work

Recent Examples of revel from the Web

But the author clearly revels just as much in intricately capturing the chicanery outside the ropes that continues to mar the sport’s reputation to this day.

— chris brodeur, courant.com, "UConn Professor Chronicles Rocky Marciano's Rise Set Against Boxing's Murky Underworld," 12 July 2018
Both movies revel in the visual gags made possible by the power of scale, with Ant-Man almost washed down a drain (despite Mr. Rogers’ reassurances) and engaging in a life-or-death battle in a briefcase.

— noah berlatsky, The Verge, "The best superhero stories admit that superheroes are ridiculous," 11 July 2018
Russian state television will revel in showcasing the country’s leader—fresh from hosting the World Cup—on an equal footing with the most powerful man in the world.

— anna arutunyan, Time, "No Matter What Happens in Helsinki, Putin Has Already Won," 10 July 2018
President Donald Trump has reveled in building up the suspense as other controversies swirl around him.

— morning brief, The Seattle Times, "A station could be making firefighters sick, Sue Bird makes history and more rescues from the Thai cave | Monday Morning Brief, July 9," 9 July 2018
Trump has reveled in building up suspense in the days leading up to his speech, offering fragments of information here and there but strategically keeping the guessing game alive.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Trump’s reveal of his Supreme Court choice will be a show, and that’s how he likes it," 8 July 2018
Not because anyone should revel in the loss of another person's job.

— shawn windsor, Detroit Free Press, "In firing Chris Bosio, Detroit Tigers prove that words still matter," 28 June 2018
Rather than running from the truth, Rutherford revels in the fact that the origins and interlocking realities of human society are messy.

— sarah mupo, STAT, "The 39 best health and science books to read this summer," 25 June 2018
And for a woman who detests groupthink, Owens revels in the power of a horde.

— NBC News, "YouTube tested, Trump approved: How Candace Owens suddenly became the loudest voice on the far right," 23 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'revel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of revel

Middle English, from Anglo-French reveler, literally, to rebel, from Latin rebellare

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

revel

noun

Definition of revel

: a usually wild party or celebration

See revel defined for English-language learners

Examples of revel in a Sentence

in Finland, Midsummer Day ushers in a nationwide revel as the Finns celebrate the endless hours of sunlight with bonfires and parties

Recent Examples of revel from the Web

Ant-Man and the Wasp revels in wringing joy from mundane items—a giant salt shaker is a weapon in one scene, as is an inflated Hello Kitty Pez dispenser in another.

— david sims, The Atlantic, "Ant-Man and the Wasp," 5 July 2018
Director-choreographer John Vaughan’s season-opening production revels in the essential goofiness of this musical that wraps nearly two dozen of the group’s tunes around a story of an island wedding and the bride-to-be’s search for her mystery dad.

— james hebert, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Moonlight brings the fizz and fun to ABBA-centric 'Mamma Mia!'," 16 June 2018
An immigration hardliner and county official in northern Virginia, Stewart champions preserving Virginia’s Confederate monuments and revels in personal attacks on other politicians — Republican and Democrats alike.

— Washington Post, "Little-known Virginia Republicans vying for US Senate shot," 9 June 2018
The author, a scholar of linguistics, revels in the minutiae of spelling, grammar, and usage, and her love of our living, changing language is infectious.

— helen rosner, The New Yorker, "Briefly Noted," 6 June 2018
If a renegade dares turn against the crowd, the crowd teams up against them, then returns to its revels.

— robin sloan, The Atlantic, "I Played Fortnite and Figured Out the Universe," 10 May 2018
The new location revels in its place on the map, offering up stunning views of the downtown Miami skyline and Biscayne Bay from the open-air top floors.

— richard tribou, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Explore Florida's Miami-Dade County: A new science center," 6 May 2018
Autumn especially lends itself perfectly to the colorful revels of El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), which occurs this year from October 31 to November 2.

— travel wisconsin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Learn about Mexican culture with these family-friendly Day of the Dead celebrations," 10 Oct. 2017
The Art Basel bacchanal returns to Miami Beach this winter, packed with enough fairs, dinners, and late-night revels to exhaust even the most ambitious gallery girl.

— emily cronin, Harper's BAZAAR, "BAZAAR Goes to Art Basel," 26 Nov. 2013