revel

[ rev-uhl ]

/ ˈrɛv əl /

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verb (used without object), rev·eled, rev·el·ing or (especially British) rev·elled, rev·el·ling.

to take great pleasure or delight (usually followed by in): to revel in luxury.

to make merry; indulge in boisterous festivities.

noun

boisterous merrymaking or festivity; revelry.

Often revels. an occasion of merrymaking or noisy festivity with dancing, masking, etc.

Nearby words

Origin of revel

1275–1325; (v.) Middle English revelen < Old French reveler to raise tumult, make merry < Latin rebellāre to rebel; (noun) Middle English < Old French, derivative of reveler

SYNONYMS FOR revel

2. celebrate, carouse, roister, caper.

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Related formsrev·el·er; especially British, rev·el·ler, nounrev·el·ment, nounun·rev·el·ing, adjectiveun·rev·el·ling, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for revelling

The coast is to be left defenceless, while men of the interior are revelling in conquest and spoil.
American Eloquence, Volume I. (of 4)|Various
That other self of hers unfurled its wings, and she floated off, revelling in an ecstasy of gentle motion.
The Beth Book|Sarah Grand
How was it in the old times when Port Royal was crowded with revelling crews of buccaneers?
The English in the West Indies|James Anthony Froude
They sat in front of the temple until far in the night, revelling in the beauty of the new nature.
Nedra|George Barr McCutcheon

He had a grand time, revelling with pen and pad and littering the floor with inked sheets unnumbered and still wet.
When Winter Comes to Main Street|Grant Martin Overton

British Dictionary definitions for revelling

revel

/ (ˈrɛvəl) /

verb -els, -elling or -elled or US -els, -eling or -eled (intr)

(foll by in) to take pleasure or wallowto 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

Derived Formsreveller, nounrevelment, noun

Word Origin for revel

C14: from Old French reveler to be merry, noisy, from Latin rebellāre to revolt, rebel

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

Word Origin and History for revelling

revel

late 14c., "riotous merry-making," from Old French revel "entertainment, revelry," verbal noun from reveler "be disorderly, make merry" (see revel (v.)). Related: Revels; revel-rout.

revel

early 14c., "to feast in a noisy manner;" late 14c., "take part in revels," from Old French reveler, also rebeller "be disorderly, make merry; rebel, be riotous," from Latin rebellare "to rebel" (see rebel (v.)). The meaning "take great pleasure in" first recorded 1754. Related: Reveled; reveling; revelled; revelling.

revel

verb (used without object), rev·eled, rev·el·ing or (especially British) rev·elled, rev·el·ling.

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of revel

Examples from the Web for revelling

revel

verb -els, -elling or -elled or US -els, -eling or -eled (intr)

noun

Word Origin for revel

revel

revel