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
CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026
Enabled by revolutionary advances in communications, computers, and shipping, multinational firms dramatically reduced their costs and enlarged their markets by developing global supply and distribution chains.
—Walter Russell Mead, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2026
Benjamin Mazer, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
One nomination after another, Anderson’s drama about a group of revolutionaries has been steamrolling awards season, so its 14 nods are not surprising.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for revolutionary
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Adjective
So this isn't a revolutionary new thing.
—CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026
Enabled by revolutionary advances in communications, computers, and shipping, multinational firms dramatically reduced their costs and enlarged their markets by developing global supply and distribution chains.
—Walter Russell Mead, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2026
Noun
Like a revolutionary turned generalissimo, Kennedy has transformed the former palace into a military command center.
—Benjamin Mazer, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
One nomination after another, Anderson’s drama about a group of revolutionaries has been steamrolling awards season, so its 14 nods are not surprising.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 23 Jan. 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 26 Jan. 2026.
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