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
An American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution. USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2024 By the time the Sabines sought revenge, many of the tribe’s daughters and sisters were either carrying or had given birth to Romans. Julia Khrebtan-Hörhager, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2024 After losing to Kansas State earlier in the season, the Kansas Jayhawks earned their revenge on Tuesday’s Senior Night. Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2024 Director: Zack Snyder Cast: Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Mekhi Phifer, Ty Burrell, Lindy Booth Setting the politics of this movie aside, which is important to do with any Charles Bronson vehicle, Death Wish remains a damn fine example of the revenge genre. EW.com, 2 Mar. 2024 Doxing is the act of publishing private information about a person as a form of punishment or revenge. Maritza Dominguez, The Arizona Republic, 29 Feb. 2024 In an act that prosecutors called one of revenge, at about 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 30, 2002, Washington and Jordan entered a fire escape at the back of Mizell's recording studio in Jamaica, Queens, in New York City. Ayana Archie, NPR, 28 Feb. 2024 Dune does follow a typical hero’s quest, with Paul surviving against all odds to become a great warrior and exact revenge for the death of his father. David Sims, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2024 Chalamet returns as Paul Atreides, who’s on a revenge tour to search for the villains who destroyed his family. Ann Hornaday, Kansas City Star, 24 Feb. 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 19 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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