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
Playing on the latter’s name, this was the doing of Magic Mascs, an all-masc lesbian and translesbian revue, by sapphics for sapphics.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 2, 2026
Eliot, “Cats” has narrative lines but more or less unfolds as a revue.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026
It’s a wise choice: The venue gives the show the intimate feeling of a nightclub act, and it’s far better suited to a revue of Bacharach’s music than a larger space.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 5, 2026
The revue was to be followed by ten minutes of military maneuvers, a different drill to be given each night.
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.
