revelry

American  

[rev-uhl-ree] / ˈrɛv əl ri /

noun

plural

revelries

1. reveling; boisterous festivity.

   Their revelry could be heard across the river.

   Synonyms:

   spree, carousal, celebration, merrymaking

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revelry British  

/ ˈrɛvəlrɪ /

noun

1. noisy or unrestrained merrymaking

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Etymology

Origin of revelry

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; revel, -ry

Explanation

Revelry is a wild, fun time. If you enjoy the revelry of a New Year's Eve party, you might pay for partying hard the next day. The noun revelry means merrymaking, but because it comes from the French word reveler meaning to rebel, its tone indicates carousing or noisy partying. It's not your grandparents' tame, sedate cocktail party: revelry is a full-throttle festive gathering, where people outwardly enjoy themselves. In fact, a wild party was once called a "revel," though you don't hear that term used much today.

Example Sentences

But it goes beyond the Times Square revelry.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 31, 2025

Although New Year’s Eve is typically a time of uninhibited revelry, more young partyers are wary of getting down.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 31, 2025

Where Berlin was once famed for its round-the-clock revelry and pounding techno parties, the city's nightclubs have been fighting to stay afloat as soaring prices, rising rents and changing tastes hammer the industry.

From Barron's • Oct. 23, 2025

Supersonic will likely behave better than the Gallaghers, but for Angeleno Anglophiles, this week’s revelry is on par with Taylor Swift’s Eras tour or a BTS reunion coming to town.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 5, 2025

Though they could have joined the revelry in the streets below, they were content to simply be near each other, for they both sensed that something precious was coming to an end.

From "Huntress" by Malinda Lo

Related Words

• debauchery
• festivity