revue
Americannoun
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a form of theatrical entertainment in which recent events, popular fads, etc., are parodied.
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any entertainment featuring skits, dances, and songs.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of revue
First recorded in 1870–75; from French: literally, “seen again”; see origin at review
Explanation
If you like singing and dancing, you might enjoy seeing a revue, or a theatrical show featuring a lot of performers with a variety of talents. The noun revue is somewhat old-fashioned, and this type of entertainment is more likely today to be called a "variety show." Revues were particularly popular in the early part of the 20th century, until the mid-1930s, and audiences attended them both for the funny, topical sketches as well as to see women dancing in scanty clothes. The earliest meaning of revue was "show presenting a review of current events."
Vocabulary lists containing revue
Out of the Dust
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"The Pedestrian" by Ray Bradbury
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Internment
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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.
“House” was first heard in a short-lived 1942 revue titled “Let Freedom Sing” but was then performed by an African-American vocal group, the Delta Rhythm Boys.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 25, 2026
Unlike a bachelorette party or the typical male revue, there was no giggling in the room, and no wink of camp from the performers.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026
In 1921, hoteliers in Atlantic City subverted that idea by creating their own revue of “bathing beauties,” held the week after Labor Day as a way to extend the summer season.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 10, 2025
Rather than assemble a soup-to-nuts tale hamstrung by chronology, he shrewdly offers up her story as an all-star revue about her ascent.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2025
She wants to be in the revue, too.
From Marjorie Dean High School Senior by Chase, Josephine
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.
