revenge

American  

[ri-venj] / rɪˈvɛndʒ /

verb (used with object)

revenged, revenging

1. to exact punishment or expiation for a wrong on behalf of, especially in a resentful or vindictive spirit.

   He revenged his murdered brother.

2. to take vengeance for; inflict punishment for; avenge.

   He revenged his brother's murder.

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verb (used without object)

revenged, revenging

1. to take revenge.

noun

1. the act of revenging; retaliation for injuries or wrongs; vengeance.

   Synonyms:

   requital

2. something done in vengeance.

3. the desire to retaliate; vindictiveness.

4. an opportunity to retaliate or gain satisfaction.

revenge British  

/ rɪˈvɛndʒ /

noun

1. the act of retaliating for wrongs or injury received; vengeance

2. something done as a means of vengeance

3. the desire to take vengeance or retaliate

4. a return match, regarded as a loser's opportunity to even the score

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verb

1. to inflict equivalent injury or damage for (injury received); retaliate in return for

2. to take vengeance for (oneself or another); avenge

Usage

What does revenge mean? Revenge is the act or process of retaliating against or punishing someone for some kind of harm that they caused or wrongdoing that they did (whether real or perceived). It can also refer to the result of such efforts, as in After all this time, I will have revenge against those who have wronged me!Revenge often involves an attempt to get even by inflicting similar harm to the person who initially harmed the person seeking revenge. Revenge has several other synonyms that each have different shades of meaning, including retribution, retaliation, and reprisal. But more than these words, revenge implies that such retaliation is personal and motivated by a deep anger and perhaps an obsessive desire to get even. Revenge is often planned out over a period of time—hitting someone back right after they hit you could be referred to as retaliation, but probably wouldn’t be called revenge. An informal synonym is payback—getting someone back for something they did to you, especially after time has passed. The related word vengeance can be used as an even more intense synonym for revenge, but it also commonly refers to a desire for revenge, as in He was filled with vengeance. Less commonly, revenge can be used as a verb meaning to get revenge, as in I will revenge the theft of my sister’s necklace or I will revenge myself for the crimes committed against me. The related word avenge is much more commonly used in this way. To avenge is to get revenge or to inflict some form of punishment in retaliation for harm or wrongdoing done by someone else. However, avenge is more associated with justice and doesn’t always imply the same level of anger that revenge does. The adjective revengeful is used to describe someone who is determined to get revenge or someone who is inclined to seek revenge—someone who is vindictive. A more commonly used synonym is vengeful. Example: Revenge never ends well, and becoming obsessed with it is like letting your enemy defeat you yet again.

Related Words

See avenge. Revenge, reprisal, retribution, vengeance suggest a punishment, or injury inflicted in return for one received. Revenge is the carrying out of a bitter desire to injure another for a wrong done to oneself or to those who are felt to be like oneself: to plot revenge. Reprisal, formerly any act of retaliation, is used specifically in warfare for retaliation upon the enemy for its (usually unlawful) actions: to make a raid in reprisal for one by the enemy. Retribution suggests just or deserved punishment, often without personal motives, for some evil done: a just retribution for wickedness. Vengeance is usually wrathful, vindictive, furious revenge: implacable vengeance.

Other Word Forms

• nonrevenge noun
• nonrevenger noun
• prerevenge noun
• revengeless adjective
• revenger noun
• revenging adjective
• revengingly adverb
• unrevenged adjective
• unrevenging adjective

Etymology

Origin of revenge

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English revengen (verb), from Middle French, Old French revengier, from re- re- + vengier “to avenge”; see avenge

Explanation

Someone seeking revenge is looking to retaliate for a wrong that has been done. Sometimes a word can be used as either a noun or a verb, without changing the spelling. That's the case with revenge. You can take revenge (noun) on someone who hurt you, or you can revenge (verb) the hurt, punishing the person who wronged you. While revenge may be sweet, it usually just leads to more revenge from the other side, and so on. While that makes a good Shakespeare play, it can get pretty wearing in real life.

Example Sentences

Iran is no bastion of free expression, in other words, which anyone bopping to those raps about enacting revenge on “the Baal-worshipping Epstein crew” must remember.

From Salon • Apr. 26, 2026

Yet one of the best of all revenge movies declines to make its protagonist available for easy audience identification.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

"Every Hungary deserves a public service media that broadcasts the truth," he told Kossuth radio, explaining he was not after personal revenge, even though he and his family had been insulted "morning, noon and night".

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

Earle seems to be in the mood for revenge.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

I’m sure some of the younger fencers didn’t understand my tenacity or competitive nature during practice, but fencing was my only way to seek revenge on an enemy with no name.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Related Words

• attack
• reprisal
• retribution
• vengeance