Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
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.

TOKYO—Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was on track to lead her party to a thumping victory in parliamentary elections, handing her a powerful mandate to deepen ties with the U.S. and rev up Japan’s economy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 8, 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

The Headingley win means team changes are unlikely, giving Archer an extra week to rev up for Lord's.

From BBC • Jun. 26, 2025

He’d stare, or rev his car engine, or drive down his parallel driveway and watch us up close till we were picked up for school.

From Slate • Feb. 10, 2025

He waited till I had stumbled to the front door, and then I heard his engine quietly rev.

From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer

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.