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revenge

n. · v.
US //ɹiˈvɛndʒ// UK //ɹɪvˈɛndʒ// re·venge
  1. 1 retaliation for a wrong (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the act of hurting or punishing someone because they harmed you or someone you care about.

    the action of inflicting hurt or harm on someone for an injury or wrong suffered at their hands.

    Example

    He spent years planning his revenge against the man who stole his business.

    Example

    The protagonist's quest for revenge eventually consumes him, illustrating the destructive nature of holding onto past grievances.
    Pitfall
    He took a revenge on his enemy.
    He took revenge on his enemy.

    In this sense, 'revenge' is usually uncountable and does not take the article 'a'.

  2. 2 winning back (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Sport

    a victory in a game or competition against someone who defeated you in the past.

    an opportunity for a defeated player or team to redeem themselves by winning a subsequent encounter.

    Example

    After losing the first match, the team got their revenge by winning the final.

    Example

    The defending champions are seeking revenge in tonight's final after their humiliating defeat earlier in the season.
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  1. 3 to avenge a wrong (v.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    to punish someone for a bad thing they did to you or your family.

    to inflict harm in return for an injury or insult; often used reflexively or with a direct object representing the wrong.

    Example

    She vowed to revenge her father's death no matter how long it took.

    Example

    The prince sought to revenge himself upon those who had conspired to usurp his throne and exile his family.

    Usage

    Often used reflexively, as in 'to revenge oneself on someone'.
Etymology 1

From Middle French revenge, a derivation from revenger, from Old French revengier (possibly influenced by Old Occitan revènge (“revenge, comeback”), from Old Occitan revenir (“to come back”)), a variant of Middle French revancher (whence deverbal French revanche), from Old French revenchier. The variants Old French vengier (whence French venger) and Old French venchier are both descended from Latin vindicō, with stress-conditioned different parallel development in the inflectional forms. Doublet of revanche. Compare avenge and vengeance.

Etymology 2

From Middle English revengen, from Old French revengier, revenger.

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