avenge

[ uh-venj ]

verb (used with object)

, a·venged, a·veng·ing.

1. to take vengeance or exact satisfaction for:

   to avenge a grave insult.

   Antonyms: forgive

2. to take vengeance on behalf of:

   He avenged his brother.

avenge

/ əˈvɛndʒ /

verb

1. usually tr to inflict a punishment in retaliation for (harm, injury, etc) done to (a person or persons); take revenge for or on behalf of

   to avenge a murdered friend

   to avenge a crime

Usage

The use of avenge with a reflexive pronoun was formerly considered incorrect, but is now acceptable: she avenged herself on the man who killed her daughter

Derived Forms

• aˈvenger, noun

Other Words From

• a·venge·ful adjective
• a·veng·er noun
• a·veng·ing·ly adverb
• un·a·venged adjective
• un·a·veng·ing adjective
• un·a·veng·ing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of avenge¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English avengen, from Old French avengier, equivalent to a- prefix meaning “toward, increase” ( a- ⁵ ) + vengier, from Latin vindicāre; vindicate

Word History and Origins

Origin of avenge¹

C14: from Old French avengier, from vengier, from Latin vindicāre; see vengeance , vindicate

Synonym Study

Avenge, revenge both imply to inflict pain or harm in return for pain or harm inflicted on oneself or those persons or causes to which one feels loyalty. The two words were formerly interchangeable, but have been differentiated until they now convey widely diverse ideas. Avenge is now restricted to inflicting punishment as an act of retributive justice or as a vindication of propriety: to avenge a murder by bringing the criminal to trial. Revenge implies inflicting pain or harm to retaliate for real or fancied wrongs; a reflexive pronoun is often used with this verb: Iago wished to revenge himself upon Othello.

Example Sentences

Bill Murray stars as the titular character, a wacky oceanographer who sets out to avenge the death of his partner Esteban by stalking the alleged shark behind the crime.

From Washington Post

We lose our humanity, the space to be bereft, the chance to avenge and honor our ancestors, to fight for their legacy to live among everyday consciousness.

From Vox

In the aftermath of a national tragedy, we are supposed to come together and say “never forget,” to agree on the heroes and the villains, on who was at fault and how their culpability must be avenged.

From Time

The first five episodes of the series found Assane avenging his father’s death—and the next five bring us right back into the action with the protagonist doing whatever it takes to protect the ones he loves most.

From Time

Using Lupin’s tactics, Assane sets out to avenge an act of savage cruelty against his late father.

From Time

Protestors chanted “with our blood and our souls, we will avenge you, oh martyr.”

From The Daily Beast

Within days of 9/11 he was talking about a “crusade” to avenge the blow, without realizing how freighted that word was.

From The Daily Beast

So I think that was personally felt too, my personal desire to avenge my own laziness and mistakes in life.

From The Daily Beast

Marius is a Roman soldier whose father is killed and he goes to avenge the death.

From The Daily Beast

Now, 13 years later, Stan's little brother Matthew is back to avenge his death.

From The Daily Beast

But it should not be by embracing revenge through the treasons, whose arms were extended to receive and to avenge him.

From Project Gutenberg

It is their fate to experience this, as it becomes the task of the historian to avenge their memories.

From Project Gutenberg

How boldly he acted during the Haymarket tragedy—publicly advised the use of violence to avenge the capitalist conspiracy.

From Project Gutenberg

Certain of the fate of my grandfather, but lacking the energy to avenge him, he made to me this revelation on his death-bed.

From Project Gutenberg

Then many of the men fell to 112 talking, & they said: Eirik the Earl will not fight to avenge his father.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• vindicate