# rave

/ˈɹeɪv/ (US) · /ɹˈeɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rave
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. enthusiastic review

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a very positive review of a film, book, or performance.

For teachers: an exceptionally positive or enthusiastic critical appraisal of a creative work.

- The new restaurant received rave reviews from every food critic in the city.
- Despite the director's initial anxiety, the play opened to rave reviews that praised both the lead performance and the innovative stage design.

### 2. dance party

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a large, all-night dance party with loud electronic music.

For teachers: a large-scale dance party, often held in a warehouse or club, featuring electronic dance music and light shows.

- They spent the whole weekend at an outdoor rave in the woods.
- The local authorities were concerned about the safety of the unsanctioned rave being held in the abandoned industrial complex.

### 3. to praise enthusiastically

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to talk about something with a lot of excitement and praise.

For teachers: to speak or write about something with extreme enthusiasm or admiration; often used with 'about'.

- My sister wouldn't stop raving about the new movie she saw last night.
- Critics continue to rave about the author's ability to weave complex historical facts into a compelling fictional narrative.

Usage: Usually takes the preposition 'about'.

### 4. to talk wildly

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to talk in a wild, crazy, or angry way, often because of a fever or madness.

For teachers: to speak irrationally or incoherently, as if in a state of delirium, madness, or extreme anger.

- The old man was raving about a hidden treasure that didn't exist.
- In his feverish state, the patient began to rave about events from his childhood that he had long since forgotten.

## Examples

- The DJ played a great set at the rave last night.
- The new restaurant received a rave in the local paper, leading to a three-week waiting list for a table.
- While the underground rave scene of the nineties was defined by its DIY aesthetic, modern iterations are often highly commercialised festivals with professional security and corporate sponsorship.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.