revolutionary

[ rev-uh-loo-shuh-ner-ee ]

/ ˌrɛv əˈlu ʃəˌnɛr i /

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See synonyms for: revolutionary / revolutionaries on Thesaurus.com

adjective

of, pertaining to, characterized by, or of the nature of a revolution, or a sudden, complete, or marked change: a revolutionary junta.

radically new or innovative; outside or beyond established procedure, principles, etc.: a revolutionary discovery.

(initial capital letter) of or relating to the American Revolution or to the period contemporaneous with it in U.S. history: Revolutionary heroes; Revolutionary weapons.

revolving.

noun, plural rev·o·lu·tion·ar·ies.

a revolutionist.

OTHER WORDS FOR revolutionary

2 unprecedented, novel, drastic, unorthodox.

See synonyms for revolutionary on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of revolutionary

First recorded in 1765–75; revolution + -ary

OTHER WORDS FROM revolutionary

rev·o·lu·tion·ar·i·ly, adverbrev·o·lu·tion·ar·i·ness, nounan·ti·rev·o·lu·tion·ar·y, noun, plural an·ti·rev·o·lu·tion·ar·ies, adjectivenon·rev·o·lu·tion·ar·y, adjective, noun, plural non·rev·o·lu·tion·ar·ies.

post-Rev·o·lu·tion·ar·y, adjectivepre·rev·o·lu·tion·ar·y, adjectivepro·rev·o·lu·tion·ar·y, adjectivesem·i·rev·o·lu·tion·ar·y, adjective, noun, plural sem·i·rev·o·lu·tion·ar·ies.ul·tra·rev·o·lu·tion·ar·y, adjective, noun, plural ul·tra·rev·o·lu·tion·ar·ies.un·rev·o·lu·tion·ar·y, adjective

Words nearby revolutionary

revoke, revolt, revolting, revolute, revolution, revolutionary, Revolutionary calendar, Revolutionary War, Revolutionary Wars, revolution counter, revolutionist

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use revolutionary in a sentence

In many ways, what Reliable Robotics and XWing propose to do with unmanned flight is less revolutionary.
Cessna makes history by taking off and landing with no one aboard. Here’s how|Jeremy Kahn|August 26, 2020|Fortune
Among the most revolutionary is rethinking the need for daily visits to methadone clinics.
Covid-19 has freed opioid addiction patients from daily methadone clinic visits|Annalisa Merelli|August 17, 2020|Quartz
Gene editing stands out as the most revolutionary of these technologies.
Biotechnology Could Change the Cattle Industry. Will It Succeed?|Dyllan Furness|August 16, 2020|Singularity Hub
Head coach John Harbaugh said during a preseason interview last year that his team would have a revolutionary offense in its first full season with Lamar Jackson under center, and he was right.
The Baltimore Ravens Used Their Tight Ends Differently|Andres Waters|July 30, 2020|FiveThirtyEight

The would-be revolutionaries seek an alternative cosmic recipe.
An Alternative to Dark Matter Passes Critical Test|Charlie Wood|July 28, 2020|Quanta Magazine
A dozen Revolutionary Guards were caught deep inside Pakistan, tracking Rigi.
The Dangerous Drug-Funded Secret War Between Iran and Pakistan|Umar Farooq|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
An attack last year that killed 16 Iranian soldiers was publicized as a “response to crimes of the Revolutionary Guards in Syria.”
The Dangerous Drug-Funded Secret War Between Iran and Pakistan|Umar Farooq|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is a revolutionary story, which threatens to upend the world as we know it.
Jesus Wasn’t Born Rich. Think About It.|Gene Robinson|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Through her haircare line, named for her grandmother, Jessie Branch, Titi Branch was revolutionary.
Goodbye To A Natural Hair Guru: Miss Jessie's Cofounder Titi Branch Dead At 45|Danielle Belton|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The liberated soul does not cease to act, to think, to create, to instigate revolutionary flows.
On Torture, Chuck Johnson & Sondheim|James Poulos|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Pierre Van Cortlandt, a distinguished revolutionary patriot, died at his seat at Croton river, aged 94.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
During the revolutionary war he was commissary-general to the Pennsylvania division, and printer to congress.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
John Stark, a major general in the revolutionary army, died, aged 93.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Tories will wax eloquent on "the pink miasma of revolutionary Radicalism."
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 107, November 3, 1894|Various
He was the last surviving officer of the Delaware regiment in the revolutionary army.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell

British Dictionary definitions for revolutionary (1 of 2)

revolutionary

/ (ˌrɛvəˈluːʃənərɪ) /

noun plural -aries

a person who advocates or engages in revolution

adjective

relating to or characteristic of a revolution

advocating or engaged in revolution

radically new or differenta revolutionary method of making plastics

rotating or revolving

Derived forms of revolutionary

revolutionarily, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for revolutionary (2 of 2)

Revolutionary

/ (ˌrɛvəˈluːʃənərɪ) /

adjective

mainly US of or relating to the conflict or period of the War of American Independence (1775–83)

of or relating to any of various other Revolutions, esp the Russian Revolution (1917) or the French Revolution (1789)

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

revolutionary

OTHER WORDS FOR revolutionary

Origin of revolutionary

OTHER WORDS FROM revolutionary

Words nearby revolutionary

Words related to revolutionary

How to use revolutionary in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for revolutionary (1 of 2)

Derived forms of revolutionary

British Dictionary definitions for revolutionary (2 of 2)