revue
Americannoun
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a form of theatrical entertainment in which recent events, popular fads, etc., are parodied.
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any entertainment featuring skits, dances, and songs.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of revue
First recorded in 1870–75; from French: literally, “seen again”; see origin at review
Explanation
If you like singing and dancing, you might enjoy seeing a revue, or a theatrical show featuring a lot of performers with a variety of talents. The noun revue is somewhat old-fashioned, and this type of entertainment is more likely today to be called a "variety show." Revues were particularly popular in the early part of the 20th century, until the mid-1930s, and audiences attended them both for the funny, topical sketches as well as to see women dancing in scanty clothes. The earliest meaning of revue was "show presenting a review of current events."
Vocabulary lists containing revue
Out of the Dust
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"The Pedestrian" by Ray Bradbury
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Internment
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He joined the California National Guard and met a bunkmate in basic training who worked in the mailroom at Revue Studios, which was owned by MCA.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 7, 2026
He’s kicking off the KFM Karaoke Country Revue, a monthly celebration where honky-tonk culture meets the queer community to toast, twang and tumble through songs like old friends in a Garth Brooks ballad.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2025
From 1972 to 1982 Greene was married to Nalani Kele, a dancer whose show, the Nalani Kele Polynesian Revue, was a long-running nightclub hit.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 31, 2023
Executives from Takarazuka Revue apologised for "loss of life" but did not announce a compensation package for the 25-year-old's family.
From BBC • Nov. 14, 2023
More than a hundred students tried out for the Spring Revue.
From "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
