rev

1 of 4

noun

ˈrev 

1

: a revolution of a motor

2

: revolution per minute

—usually used in plural

rev

2 of 4

verb

revved; revving

transitive verb

1

a

: to step up the number of revolutions per minute of

—often used with up

rev up the engine

b

: increase

—used with up

rev up production

2

: to drive or operate especially at high speed

—often used with up

3

: to make more active or effective

—used with up

revving up the economy

4

: to stir up : excite

—usually used with up

revved up the kids before bedtime

intransitive verb

1

: to operate at an increased speed of revolution

—usually used with up

2

: to increase in amount or activity

—usually used with up

the campaign revved up

3

: to become more excited especially in anticipation

—usually used with up

the partygoers were revving up

rev

3 of 4

abbreviation (1)

1

revenue

2

reverse

3

review; reviewed

4

revised; revision

5

revolution

Rev

4 of 4

abbreviation (2)

1

Revelation

2

reverend

Synonyms

Verb

• arouse
• encourage
• excite
• fire (up)
• impassion
• incite
• instigate
• move
• pique
• provoke
• spark
• stimulate
• stir

Examples of rev in a Sentence

Verb

the team was revved up by the coach's do-or-die locker room speech

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Paul Hansen recalled hearing the engine rev before the vehicle jumped the curb and hit them. —Bethany Brown, People.com, 9 May 2025

That’s a whole lot of torque fill-in at launch and into the lower and middle rev range. —Mark Ewing, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025

Verb

But Moore continued to spin its wheels and rev the engine, the D.A.’s report, which was released in January, said. —Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2025

Curtis then runs up on foot and quickly fires with a long rifle as the car begins to rev its engines again, breaking windows on the pickup. —Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

short for revolution

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1920, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing rev

• rev up

Rhymes for rev

• dev
• lev
• maglev

Kids Definition

rev

1 of 2 noun

ˈrev 

: a revolution of a motor

rev

2 of 2 verb

revved; revving

1

a

: to increase the revolutions per minute of (a motor)

b

: increase

—used with up

rev up production

2

: to make more active or effective

—used with up

needed to rev up the campaign

3

: excite sense 1

—usually used with up

revved the kids up