# revenge

/ɹiˈvɛndʒ/ (US) · /ɹɪvˈɛndʒ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/revenge
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. retaliation for a wrong

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- He spent years planning his revenge against the man who stole his business.
- The protagonist's quest for revenge eventually consumes him, illustrating the destructive nature of holding onto past grievances.

### 2. winning back

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

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

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

- After losing the first match, the team got their revenge by winning the final.
- The defending champions are seeking revenge in tonight's final after their humiliating defeat earlier in the season.

### 3. to avenge a wrong

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

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

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

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

## Examples

- He took his revenge by telling everyone her secret.
- The protagonist spends the entire movie planning his revenge against the people who stole his business.
- While some cultures view revenge as a necessary restoration of honor, modern legal systems are designed to replace personal vendettas with impartial adjudication.

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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.