rave
1 Americanverb (used without object)
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raves,
present (3rd person singular)
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raved,
past participle, past
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raving
present participle
verb (used with object)
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raves,
present (3rd person singular)
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raved,
past participle, past
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raving
present participle
noun
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an act of raving.
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an extravagantly enthusiastic appraisal or review of something.
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a dance party featuring electronic dance music arranged by a disc jockey and a light show or other visual effects, and typically characterized by amphetamine and psychedelic drug use.
They have these all-night raves in a field just outside the city limits.
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British Informal. a boisterous party, especially a dance.
We hung pretty party lights and invited everyone who lived in the building to our rooftop rave.
adjective
noun
verb
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to utter (something) in a wild or incoherent manner, as when mad or delirious
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(intr) to speak in an angry uncontrolled manner
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(intr) (of the sea, wind, etc) to rage or roar
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informal (intr; foll by over or about) to write or speak (about) with great enthusiasm
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slang (intr) to enjoy oneself wildly or uninhibitedly
noun
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informal
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enthusiastic or extravagant praise
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( as modifier )
a rave review
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slang
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Also called: rave-up. a party
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a professionally organized party for young people, with electronic dance music, sometimes held in a field or disused building
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slang a fad or fashion
the latest rave
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a name given to various types of dance music, such as techno, that feature fast electronic rhythm
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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ravesimple
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ravessimple
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have ravedperfect
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has ravedperfect
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am ravingprogressive
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are ravingprogressive
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is ravingprogressive
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have been ravingperfect progressive
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has been ravingperfect progressive
Past
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ravedsimple
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had ravedperfect
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was ravingprogressive
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were ravingprogressive
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had been ravingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of rave1
First recorded in 1325–75; 1915–25 rave 1 for def. 2; 1960–65 rave 1 for def. 8; 1985–90 rave 1 for def. 7; Middle English verb raven, probably from Middle French resver “to wander, be delirious”; further origin uncertain
Origin of rave2
First recorded in 1520–30; origin obscure; probably an alteration of dialect rathe “rail or shaft on a cart”
Explanation
If you rave about a book you just read, you're telling people you think it's great, or you're giving it a rave review. Rave has two levels, one that implies you're very excited about something and the other that you are too excited, so you seem crazy. While raving about a movie means to talk it up, being a raving lunatic means you are engaging in a lot of crazy talk. When you rave about a performance, you talk enthusiastically about it. Take that enthusiastic talking to the next level, and you might be called raving in the crazy sense.
Vocabulary lists containing rave
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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:
DJ and party attendee Sarah Graves loves the queer vendors selling accessories, giving out harm-reduction materials, and zines, and the Piercings by Mire booth that frequently pops up at the rave.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
“I wanted to create an event where nobody had to worry about that even being a ... possibility. I wanted to create an actual rave where people could be free.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
HBO this year marketed its drama “Industry” with its own version of a rave at a warehouse in Brooklyn.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
She cites Nova Twins, who took out a bank loan to record their debut album which received rave reviews but they still struggled to find a label, she said.
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026
With her fame and her rave reviews and her new production company, she thought she no longer had to care what other people thought of her.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
The downtown dance party featuring electronic music by John Summit this spring wasn’t the typical all-nighter for Carson Gillaspia, a content creator who enjoys going to festivals and raves.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
Within my first year here, I also saw Guadalupe Rosales’ archival photos of fashionable Latina youth partying at the raves in East L.A., projected on the walls of the Vincent Price Museum.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
A former pop star now sells out stadiums hosting baby raves.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026
Rebecca Onion raves about Quincy Tyler Bernstine’s scene-stealing turn as the head of the FBI’s sex crimes unit.
From Slate ● Aug. 31, 2026
Or the dry Stella D’oro cookies with their cement frosting, which he raves and raves about and manages to find even in the most remote locations.
From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti
Our critic raved that “beyond a purely aesthetic consideration, the exhibition is an engrossing seminar on every aspect of tarot.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026
Coaches have raved about his mindset and work ethic.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026
Current and former residents raved about the sheer convenience and camaraderie with fellow adventurers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026
A retiree who moved to Lisbon four years ago raved about her new home in a recent Wall Street Journal article, calling the city safe, scenic and affordable.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026
“It’s that kit I got from the Korean market. The ones you guys raved about.”
From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh
"You don't have to look like everybody else. You don't have to be a raving beauty to be special and to be beautiful."
From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026
And since raving about his PortaSplit on X, he has also been co-opted into the community - he says he has been receiving curious messages about the air-conditioner every day.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
Coverage in the Post included stories of people raving that it was all “very cool” and “magical.”
From Salon ● Jul. 8, 2026
Influencers, celebrities and everyday people are raving about the injectable substances, which promise everything from youthful skin to speedy muscle recovery.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 27, 2026
"You did splendidly with Princess Sabine. She's been raving about you."
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
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.
