noun

revenge

ruh-VEHNJ

noun

Harm done to someone in return for a wrong they committed against you.

"She swore revenge on the colleague who had taken credit for her work."

"The whole plot is driven by a father's revenge for his son's murder."

verb

To take revenge for something, or on someone's behalf.

"He vowed to revenge his brother's death."

How to Use Revenge

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishGetting back at someone who wronged you.

Common mistake

As a verb, "revenge" sounds old-fashioned or literary — in everyday speech people usually say "avenge" or "get revenge on/for" instead.

Easily confused with

avenge → vengeance →

Common pairings

take revenge seek revenge revenge on someone sweet revenge

revenged past tense, revenges plural, revenges singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Can you complete this real example?

She swore _____ on the colleague who had taken credit for her work.

From Old French revengier/revenchier, ultimately from Latin vindicare — the same root that gives "vengeance" and "avenge".

avenge payback reprisal retaliation requital retribution revanche vengeance wrack wreak

wreak avenge reward compensation retaliation vengeance reprisal retribution

avenge scavenge challenge Stonehenge

avenge payback reprisal retaliation requital retribution revanche vengeance wrack wreak reward compensation