rev·o·lu·tion·ary
ˌre-və-ˈlü-shə-ˌner-ē 
1
a
: of, relating to, or constituting a revolution
revolutionary war
b
: tending to or promoting revolution
a revolutionary movement/leader
c
: constituting or bringing about a major or fundamental change
a revolutionary new product
2
Revolutionary
: of or relating to the American Revolution or to the period in which it occurred
plural revolutionaries
1
: one engaged in a revolution
2
: an advocate or adherent of revolutionary doctrines
Examples of revolutionary in a Sentence
Adjective
a candidate with a lot of crazy, revolutionary ideas that no one seems to be going for
revolutionary forces that were soundly defeated before reaching the capital
Noun
after the collapse of the Russian monarchy, the moderate socialists briefly governed until being overthrown by the Bolshevik revolutionaries
at first the government was not worried about this small band of unarmed revolutionaries
Recent Examples on the Web
Robin Wright, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
The revolutionary pharoah builds a great city and reduces spiritual chaos by focusing on a single-minded form of worship.
—Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Robin Wright, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
Once back in power, Perón—and, after his death in 1974, his wife and successor, Isabelita—would demonize the revolutionaries as terrorists.
—Daniel R. Quiles, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for revolutionary
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Adjective
But the Assembly may select a revolutionary hard-liner to signal continuity.
—Robin Wright, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
The revolutionary pharoah builds a great city and reduces spiritual chaos by focusing on a single-minded form of worship.
—Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
Almost fifty years ago, Iran’s revolutionaries introduced a militant brand of Shiite Islam as a viable medium of political opposition and governance.
—Robin Wright, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
Once back in power, Perón—and, after his death in 1974, his wife and successor, Isabelita—would demonize the revolutionaries as terrorists.
—Daniel R. Quiles, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for revolutionary
Cite this Entry
“Revolutionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/revolutionary. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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