# revel

/ˈɹɛvəɫ/ (US) · /ɹˈɛvəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/revel
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to take great pleasure

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to enjoy a situation or feeling very much.

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

- She seemed to revel in the attention she received after winning the race.
- The retired professor appeared to revel in the quiet solitude of the countryside, far removed from the frantic pace of university life.

### 2. to celebrate wildly

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

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

For teachers: to engage in noisy, lively, or unrestrained festivities.

- The crowds began to revel in the streets as soon as the festival started.
- The victorious team continued to revel long into the night, their boisterous celebrations echoing through the hotel corridors.

### 3. a celebration

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

a lively and noisy party or celebration.

For teachers: an instance of merrymaking or a boisterous festivity.

- The village held a grand revel to mark the end of the harvest.
- The midnight revel was interrupted by a sudden storm, sending the costumed guests scurrying for cover beneath the stone arches.

## Examples

- They revel in their team's victory.
- The local community continues to revel in the success of the annual summer festival long after the tents are packed away.
- While some politicians shy away from the spotlight, others clearly revel in the chaotic energy of a live televised debate, using the tension to sharpen their rhetoric.

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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.