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Synonyms

rev

1 American  
[rev] / rɛv /

noun

  1. a revolution (in an engine or the like).

verb (used with object)

revved, revving

  1. to accelerate sharply the speed of (an engine or the like) (often followed byup ).

verb (used without object)

revved, revving

  1. (of an engine) to accelerate; become revved (often followed byup ).

verb phrase

  1. rev up to increase in strength or accelerate sharply.

    The economy is beginning to rev up.
rev. 2 American  

abbreviation

  1. revenue.

  2. reverse.

  3. review.

  4. reviewed.

  5. revise; revised.

  6. revision.

  7. revolution.

  8. revolving.

Rev. 3 American  

abbreviation

  1. Bible. Revelation.

  2. Reverend.

rev. 1 British  

abbreviation

  1. revenue

  2. reverse(d)

  3. review

  4. revise(d)

  5. revision

  6. revolution

  7. revolving

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Rev. 2 British  

abbreviation

  1. Bible Revelation

  2. Reverend

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
rev 3 British  
/ rɛv /

noun

  1. revolution per minute

    the engine was doing 5000 revs
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (often foll by up) to increase the speed of revolution of (an engine)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of rev

First recorded in 1900–05; short for revolution

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.

To support its policy objectives, China set a fiscal deficit target of around 4% of GDP, in line with last year’s record deficit target, giving policymakers ample room to rev up government spending if needed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

"When our backs are against the wall or we're going well, the crowd here really does rev you up and it helps because you are blowing," said Heyes.

From Barron's • Nov. 14, 2025

There is, at all times, a prominent undercurrent of confidence that keeps “Caught Stealing” humming in neutral, ready to rev its engines and blast off again.

From Salon • Aug. 29, 2025

If you have a chance to do so, you will rev up the machinery needed to build an atomic bomb as quickly as possible.

From Slate • Jun. 24, 2025

“That’s true, but there’s nothing like a little competition to rev up a player’s game.”

From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan

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.