English Reference
verb · noun

revel

v. · n.
US /ˈɹɛvəɫ/ UK /ɹˈɛvəl/ rev·el UK spelling reveled, revels

  1. 01 C1 Advanced Literary

    v.to enjoy a situation or feeling very much.

    v.to take intense satisfaction or delight in a particular activity or circumstance. Intransitive, typically followed by the preposition 'in'.

    Simple

    She seemed to revel in the attention she received after winning the race.

    In context

    The retired professor appeared to revel in the quiet solitude of the countryside, far removed from the frantic pace of university life.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Literary

    v.to celebrate in a noisy, lively, and happy way.

    v.to engage in noisy, lively, or unrestrained festivities.

    Simple

    The crowds began to revel in the streets as soon as the festival started.

    In context

    The victorious team continued to revel long into the night, their boisterous celebrations echoing through the hotel corridors.

    celebratecarousefrolic
  3. 03 C2 Proficiency LiteraryArchaic

    n.a lively and noisy party or celebration.

    n.an instance of merrymaking or a boisterous festivity.

    Simple

    The village held a grand revel to mark the end of the harvest.

    In context

    The midnight revel was interrupted by a sudden storm, sending the costumed guests scurrying for cover beneath the stone arches.

    celebrationfestivitygala

Whenever I felt I couldn’t keep going, I returned to the film and revelled in the knowledge that it was based on truth.

The Guardian· 22 Aug 2026

Etymology 1

From Middle English revelen, from Old French revel, from reveler (“to be disorderly, to make merry”), from Latin rebello (“to rebel”). Doublet of rebel.

Etymology 2

From Latin revellere, from re- + vellere (“to pluck, pull”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin rebello
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated