rev

[rev]Informal.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rev ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a revolution (in an engine or the like).

verb (used with object), revved, rev·ving.

to accelerate sharply the speed of (an engine or the like) (often followed by up).

verb (used without object), revved, rev·ving.

(of an engine) to accelerate; become revved (often followed by up).

Verb Phrases

rev up, to increase in strength or accelerate sharply: The economy is beginning to rev up.

Origin of rev

First recorded in 1900–05; short for revolution

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

Related Words for revved

appoint, organize, launch, create, introduce, initiate, install, inaugurate, establish, enact, advance, further, hasten, spur, stimulate, expedite, quicken, pioneer, invest, fix

Examples from the Web for revved

Contemporary Examples of revved

(Complete CPAC Coverage) A couple of speakers later, Mike Huckabee revved up the crowd with his just-plain-folks sermonizing.
On CPAC Day 2, the Libertarian Wing Takes Over
Michelle Cottle
March 8, 2014
Now the anti-Islam film has people all revved up against the Americans.
Afghanistan: Of Blasphemy and Suicide Bombers
Sami Yousafzai
September 18, 2012
In the last year, he has revved up his serve by 10 miles per hour.
Tennis' Next Greatest Player Who Ever Lived
Joshua Robinson
September 14, 2010

Historical Examples of revved

During the night the artillery fire declined, but it revved the next morning.
The Story of the Great War, Volume VI (of VIII)
Various
The Irishman revved up, pinched one brake and gave the throttle a kick.
A Yankee Flier with the R.A.F.
Rutherford G. Montgomery
Mike taxied back fast to the laboratory, turned the plane and revved up, holding on the brakes.
The Electronic Mind Reader
John Blaine
He revved up again and taxied as rapidly as he dared to the houseboat, swung broadside to it, and throttled back.
The Electronic Mind Reader
John Blaine
He revved the engines impatiently as the big door rolled away and the stars burned in at him.
The Sex Life of the Gods
Michael Knerr

British Dictionary definitions for revved

rev

noun

revolution per minutethe engine was doing 5000 revs

verb revs, revving or revved

(often foll by up) to increase the speed of revolution of (an engine)

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 revved

rev

1916, from earlier noun (1901), shortening of revolution, in reference to the internal combustion engine. Related: Revved; revving.