revel
verb (used without object)
to take great pleasure or delight (usually followed byin ).
revel
1 American
[rev-uhl]
/ ˈrɛv əl /
verb (used without object)
-
revels,
present (3rd person singular)
-
reveled,
past participle, past
-
revelled,
past participle, past (especially British)
-
reveling,
present participle
-
revelling
present participle (especially British)
noun
-
revels
plural
-
boisterous merrymaking or festivity; revelry.
-
Often revels an occasion of merrymaking or noisy festivity with dancing, masking, etc.
Revel
2
American
[rey-vuhl, rye-vyil]
/ ˈreɪ vəl, ˈrjɛ vjɪl /
noun
revel
British
/ ˈrɛvəl /
verb
-
(foll by in) to take pleasure or wallow
to revel in success
-
to take part in noisy festivities; make merry
noun
-
(often plural) an occasion of noisy merrymaking
-
a less common word for revelry
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
revelsimple
-
revelssimple
-
have reveledperfect
-
have revelledperfect
-
has reveledperfect
-
has revelledperfect
-
am revelingprogressive
-
am revellingprogressive
-
are revelingprogressive
-
are revellingprogressive
-
is revelingprogressive
-
is revellingprogressive
-
have been revelingperfect progressive
-
have been revellingperfect progressive
-
has been revelingperfect progressive
-
has been revellingperfect progressive
Past
-
reveledsimple
-
revelledsimple
-
had reveledperfect
-
had revelledperfect
-
was revelingprogressive
-
was revellingprogressive
-
were revelingprogressive
-
were revellingprogressive
-
had been revelingperfect progressive
-
had been revellingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of revel
First recorded in 1275–1325; (for the verb) Middle English revelen, from Old French reveler “to raise tumult, make merry,” from Latin rebellāre “to wage war again” ( rebel ); noun derivative of the verb
Explanation
Revel means to take great pleasure. If you revel in something, you're not just pleased or even excited; you're overwhelmed by joy. It used to mean riotous merry-making. Now it means to bask in the self-reflected glow of your own pleasure. You revel in your victory lap after winning the race. Your brother is constantly on your case for being clumsy, so when he knocks down a table filled with glassware, you revel in it. Think of it as a high level of pleasure.
Vocabulary lists containing revel
Romeo and Juliet
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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:
Die-hard “Big Bang Theory” viewers will revel in the nods to the original show — it is replete with them.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
Once the final track has been played, “F.I.G” beckons us to replay, revel in our emotions and dance once, maybe twice or thrice, more.
From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2026
Thousands of people poured into the streets of Paris for the match and to revel in PSG's triumph in the final held in the Hungarian capital Budapest late Saturday.
From Barron's ● May 31, 2026
Hastings used to revel in retelling the story of the melees that broke out that day.
From BBC ● May 17, 2026
She’s in jeans and a billowy shirt—obviously not intending to go to the revel.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
Another regular is Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian, a family friend whose son Revel also plays music with Shane.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Ending the day with some wordplay: Revel in the weirdness of the English language with Slate’s newest game, SoundBites!
From Slate ● Jul. 23, 2026
“The audience knows if you’re authentic or not,” says Ryan Revel, a talent manager who represents “The Challenge” alum Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio and former “Vanderpump Rules” stars Tom Sandoval, Kristen Doute and Jax Taylor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026
Revel Collective, chaired by former Pizza Express boss Luke Johnson, said administrators will be appointed within 10 days.
From BBC ● Jan. 26, 2026
A Revel in Spookdom," writes in part as follows: "What is there better for a real, clammy, irresponsible thrill than a volume of ghost stories?
From By Right of Sword by Arthur W. (Arthur Williams) Marchmont
Like pretty much every good, bad and ludicrous shark film ever, “The Devil’s Mouth” opens with carefree revels.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
The album revels in baser instincts too, almost in defiance of the sweetly bashful “Bad Habit.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
The second thing is he revels in doing the vision thing: setting out, with passion, the route he believes could lead to a better society and why he reckons he could lead us there.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026
The film revels in languid establishing shots of the Santa Clara Valley, with the hilly Diablo Range in the background.
From Salon ● Jun. 8, 2026
Sneaking through Balekin’s house had been less frightening than some revels.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
“You reveled in his company. He filled you with energy and humor when you felt doubtful and weak,” said Anna Wintour, the global editorial director of Vogue and Conde Nast’s chief content officer.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2026
The orchestra, adroitly conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, reveled in the otherworldly environment of the score.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026
On movie screens, Peter Sellers reveled in comic invention.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 13, 2026
Bridgeman, a 26-year-old American chasing his first PGA Tour title, said the same, but he reveled in the challenge.
From Barron's ● Feb. 20, 2026
It was a clear, cool day and I reveled in the beauty of the Natal countryside; even in winter, Natal remains green.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Hockney lived in an unheated garden shed, spent every waking hour painting and revelled in his newfound bohemia.
From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026
Other publications have revelled in how Sturgeon has given interviews against a backdrop of stolen books in stolen bookcases, or offered cups of coffee to journalists from a coffee machine Murrell bought with stolen money.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
Just as in his 5-39 in the first innings, Robinson revelled in the conditions in his first Test for more two years.
From BBC ● Jun. 6, 2026
They took a wedge, which has never been recovered, from the tree as a trophy and revelled in the media coverage as news of the vandalism caused national and international outrage.
From BBC ● Apr. 15, 2026
When he had departed, my kind military friend caused me to rest, sent me food, and had my clothes removed and sent me a supply of fresh water, in which I revelled.
From In the Yellow Sea by Henry Frith
I should be reveling in the gourmet–soda parade.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
But the billionaire Republican is also reveling in the macho side of an event that will see bare-knuckle fighters battle it out in a mesh-framed cage known as the "Octagon."
From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026
Two years later, the Quigleys are reveling in the Sunshine State’s education freedom.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 3, 2026
South Park has spent decades reveling in its own poor taste, but the people who bankroll the show have their limits.
From Salon ● Sep. 11, 2025
Muhammad takes no notice, probably reveling in being called her fiancé.
From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali
Marcus Willis is not one for revelling in nostalgia.
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026
Italy's cricketers have been revelling in plenty of "pinch me" moments during their debut appearance at the T20 World Cup, and now they want more.
From Barron's ● Feb. 17, 2026
Verstappen, going for a fifth consecutive crown, is simply revelling in being in a position to win a title that he has spent most of the year thinking was out of reach.
From BBC ● Nov. 30, 2025
Having won Saturday's sprint to trim Piastri's championship advantage to 55 points, the Dutchman was revelling in his form and the role of hunter as McLaren's supremacy evaporated.
From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2025
Or is he merely a great humourist, revelling in the mirth, the absurdities, the ridiculous phases of character, which show themselves on the surface of life?
From The Roman Poets of the Republic by W. Y. Sellar
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.
