# rev up

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rev-up
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to make an engine run faster or to increase the energy and activity of something.

For teachers: to increase the running speed of an engine by pressing the accelerator; figuratively, to stimulate or accelerate the pace of an activity. The verb functions both transitively and intransitively.

## Examples

- He revs up the engine before he starts the car.
- The band played a fast song to rev up the crowd before the main show started.
- The government plans to rev up the economy by offering tax breaks to small businesses and investing in infrastructure.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The driver reved up the motor." but "The driver revved up the motor." — The consonant 'v' must be doubled when adding the -ed or -ing suffixes.

## Usage notes

- The verb is optionally separable, meaning you can place the object between 'rev' and 'up'.
- Teaching tip: Use the image of a car engine getting louder and faster to explain how the phrase applies to business or social energy.

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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.