avenge
Americanverb
Usage
The use of avenge with a reflexive pronoun was formerly considered incorrect, but is now acceptable: she avenged herself on the man who killed her daughter
Synonym Usage
Avenge, revenge both imply to inflict pain or harm in return for pain or harm inflicted on oneself or those persons or causes to which one feels loyalty. The two words were formerly interchangeable, but have been differentiated until they now convey widely diverse ideas. Avenge is now restricted to inflicting punishment as an act of retributive justice or as a vindication of propriety: to avenge a murder by bringing the criminal to trial. Revenge implies inflicting pain or harm to retaliate for real or fancied wrongs; a reflexive pronoun is often used with this verb: Iago wished to revenge himself upon Othello.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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avengernoun
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avengefuladjective
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unavengedadjective
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unavengingadjective
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avenginglyadverb
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unavenginglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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avengesimple
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avengessimple
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have avengedperfect
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has avengedperfect
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am avengingprogressive
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are avengingprogressive
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is avengingprogressive
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have been avengingperfect progressive
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has been avengingperfect progressive
Past
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avengedsimple
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had avengedperfect
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was avengingprogressive
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were avengingprogressive
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had been avengingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of avenge
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English avengen, from Old French avengier, equivalent to a- prefix meaning “toward, increase” ( see a- 5) + vengier, from Latin vindicāre; see vindicate
Explanation
If you avenge your father's death by killing his murderer (thereby taking revenge for the crime), there is a good chance you'll end up in jail, if you're caught. Many movie plots center on a character who seeks to avenge an injury of some kind. Whether it be Simba in "The Lion King," who wants to avenge his father's death, or Erin Brockovich, who seeks to avenge the suffering caused by a crooked and polluting California power company. One trick to remembering the word is that it's similar to the word revenge, which is the thing you're going for when you're seeking to avenge a bad deed. Watch for the venge in both words, and you'll know you're in the right department.
Vocabulary lists containing avenge
100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
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"The Cask of Amontillado"
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Beowulf vocabulary
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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.
See Examples For:
On Thursday they have a chance to avenge an Aug. 15 loss to Westlake.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026
Holloway was looking to avenge his defeat by McGregor when they first met in 2013 and takes his record to 28 wins in 37 fights.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
South Carolina is trying to avenge last season’s championship loss to UConn and secure its fourth national championship in program history and the third in five years.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 22, 2026
It is also a chance for the Broncos to avenge last year's devastating 31-7 playoff loss in Buffalo.
From Barron's ● Jan. 16, 2026
He asked who would avenge Balder’s death, and her answer puzzled him.
From "Norse Mythology" by Neil Gaiman
Victory also marked a first over a world number one player for Fritz, 27, and avenges last year's Laver Cup defeat by Alcaraz, which sealed the title for Team Europe.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2025
Like the otherworldly hero he is, Anielewicz “raises his hand, ignites the fire, hurls thunderbolts, avenges hate, washes away sorrow, touches the sky, changes history, saves the world!”
From New York Times ● Jul. 1, 2022
He avenges his London 2012 loss to South African rival Chad le Clos with a 200-meter butterfly victory and his 20th career gold.
From Washington Times ● Aug. 8, 2020
The American West In this new episode of the documentary series, Jesse James resurfaces after years in hiding, and Billy the Kid avenges the death of his friend.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2016
He was a sort of Bradman, top of the battling avenges.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
The impressive Simpson avenged the only loss of his career, when Williamson upset the odds to stop him in the 10th round in December.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
The Trojans avenged the 5-4 loss they suffered against Texas State on Friday night in the regional opener.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026
His only blemish remains a draw with Frazer Clarke, a result he emphatically avenged with a first-round stoppage.
From BBC ● May 8, 2026
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 37 points and the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder avenged their only loss of the season by beating Portland 122-95 on Sunday.
From Barron's ● Nov. 24, 2025
“He’s the only member of the royal family who can crown Balekin. Without Cardan, the throne will be forever lost, and we will have avenged Dain.”
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
He flies like an avenging angel, holding a candle in one hand and grapes in the other.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
The same, by the way, was true of Nat Turner and John Brown—bloodthirsty monsters for some, avenging angels for others.
From Slate ● Dec. 18, 2024
The New Zealand-Canadian pair beat American Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic 7-5 6-3, avenging their loss in the Wimbledon final.
From BBC ● Nov. 9, 2024
That put the spotlight on the Huskies, and they added to the program’s legacy with a dominant performance while avenging their only loss.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 2, 2024
Or djinns he’d surely cheated in a bargain, avenging themselves with a constant itch in his ear.
From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri
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.
