rev up

Idioms  

1. Increase the speed or rate of, enliven, stimulate, as in Bill revved up the motor, or They looked for ways to rev up the ad campaign. The verb rev is an abbreviation for revolution, alluding to the rate of rotation of an engine. The idiom dates from about 1920 and has been used figuratively since the mid-1900s.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rev up

It’s so immediately distinctive: 0 to 60 in five seconds, instant energy, a handful of guitar notes before all of the instruments rev up.

From Salon ● Oct. 7, 2026

It will take time for the climate pattern to rev up.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026

But military leaders have said they want to rev up new production lines now so that they have more options available in the years ahead.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026

The "Avatar" films "connect everywhere around the world," Gross said, adding that the 20th Century movie -- like its predecessors -- would likely rev up on "outstanding word-of-mouth."

From Barron's ● Dec. 21, 2025

We rev up imaginary motors at the mention of his name.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez

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Related Words

• advance
• expedite
• further
• hasten
• open up
• quicken
• spur
• step up
• stimulate

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