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. 2018

Examples from the Web for revving

Contemporary Examples

Reminded of that revving motor down in Dixie, I have to concur.
A History of American Fun
Stefan Beck
February 9, 2014
Risk, transgression, mockery, rebellion—these are the revving motors of fun.
A History of American Fun
Stefan Beck
February 9, 2014
Now that Sarah Palin is launching an East Coast bus tour, the speculation machine is revving up again.
2012's Presidential Whiners
Howard Kurtz
May 29, 2011
"They'd had a couple of run-ins with [Randy] revving his car in the morning," said Ron Johnson, another neighbor.
Loughner's Parents: Did They Know About His Mental Illness?
Claire Martin, Masada Siegel
January 11, 2011

Historical Examples

His ears were filled with the sound of the revving aircraft engines.
Dave Dawson with the Commandos
R. Sidney Bowen
Somewhere down the line a big plane was getting ready to take off, the pilot was checking his magnetos, revving up his engines.
The Golden Skull
John Blaine
Now the street noises assailed his ears; the grinding of gears, the revving of motors.
This Crowded Earth
Robert Bloch
It was then that Dave suddenly was conscious of the fact that there were sounds of revving aircraft engines.
Dave Dawson with the Commandos
R. Sidney Bowen

British Dictionary definitions for revving

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 revving

rev

v.

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

rev

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Examples from the Web for revving

Contemporary Examples

Reminded of that revving motor down in Dixie, I have to concur.

Risk, transgression, mockery, rebellion—these are the revving motors of fun.

Now that Sarah Palin is launching an East Coast bus tour, the speculation machine is revving up again.

"They'd had a couple of run-ins with [Randy] revving his car in the morning," said Ron Johnson, another neighbor.

Historical Examples

His ears were filled with the sound of the revving aircraft engines.

Somewhere down the line a big plane was getting ready to take off, the pilot was checking his magnetos, revving up his engines.

Now the street noises assailed his ears; the grinding of gears, the revving of motors.

It was then that Dave suddenly was conscious of the fact that there were sounds of revving aircraft engines.

rev

Word Origin and History for revving

rev

v.

Origin of rev