I. re ‧ venge 1 /rɪˈvendʒ/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
1 . something you do in order to punish someone who has harmed or offended you
revenge for
She wanted revenge for the insult.
revenge against/on
At his wife’s funeral, he vowed revenge against her killer.
in revenge for something
a bomb attack in revenge for the imprisonment of the terrorists
2 . the defeat of someone who has previously defeated you in a sport
revenge for
The Australians took revenge for their defeat here last time.
a revenge match
—revengeful adjective
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ take revenge
He dreamed of taking revenge on his father’s killers.
▪ get (your) revenge
Louise eventually got her revenge by reporting him to the immigration service.
▪ have your revenge
One day I’ll have my revenge.
▪ seek revenge
They play two women who seek revenge on their former partners.
▪ want revenge
You broke her heart and now she wants revenge.
▪ exact/wreak revenge formal (=take revenge)
He was exacting revenge on society.
▪ vow revenge (=promise to take revenge)
His supporters vowed revenge for his death.
■ adjectives
▪ a terrible/awful revenge
Caesar returned to Rome to exact a terrible revenge.
■ revenge + NOUN
▪ a revenge attack
The camp was burned down, apparently in a revenge attack.
▪ a revenge killing
Her death was followed by a series of revenge killings.
■ phrases
▪ an act of revenge
The men were shot dead in an act of revenge for Khan’s assassination.
▪ revenge is sweet (=said when someone feels good because they have got revenge)
It took me a long time, but revenge is sweet.
II. revenge 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: revengier , from avengier ; ⇨ ↑ avenge ]
formal to punish someone who has done something to harm you or someone else
revenge yourself on somebody
The terrorist group is still looking to revenge itself on its attackers.
The poor murdered girl must be revenged.