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
c
: constituting or bringing about a major or fundamental change
a revolutionary new product
2
capitalized
: 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
ArsTechnica, 30 June 2025
The balloon framing that was used was considered revolutionary in construction at the time, but fell out of favor after the Great Chicago Fire.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2025
Eliza McGraw, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 June 2025
Orlando Sentinel Sly Stone, leader of funk revolutionaries Sly and the Family Stone, dies at 82
Stone, born Sylvester Stewart, had been in poor health in recent years.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for revolutionary
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Adjective
Even at 18,000 years old, the mammoth boomerang was already among the oldest examples of spinning-flying-flat-stick technology (some might even have called it revolutionary) in the world.
—ArsTechnica, 30 June 2025
The balloon framing that was used was considered revolutionary in construction at the time, but fell out of favor after the Great Chicago Fire.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2025
Noun
In the artwork, a militiaman cradles the dying revolutionary, holding out his hand to stop a British soldier from stabbing Warren with a bayonet.
—Eliza McGraw, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 June 2025
Orlando Sentinel Sly Stone, leader of funk revolutionaries Sly and the Family Stone, dies at 82
Stone, born Sylvester Stewart, had been in poor health in recent years.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for revolutionary
Cite this Entry
“Revolutionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/revolutionary. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
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