Definition

1. Verb:

   • To speak or write about something with extreme, often excessive, enthusiasm or praise.
   • To talk wildly, irrationally, or incoherently, as in delirium or with intense emotion.
   • To attend or participate in a large, late-night dance party featuring electronic music.

2. Noun:

   • An extravagantly enthusiastic review or piece of praise.
   • A large, all-night dance party featuring electronically synthesized music, such as techno.

Usage and Examples

• Verb (to praise enthusiastically):

  • The critic raved about the new film, calling it a masterpiece.
  • She raved to all her friends about the amazing concert.

• Verb (to talk wildly or irrationally):

  • The feverish patient raved incoherently in his sleep.
  • He raved with anger after hearing the bad news.

• Verb (to attend a dance party):

  • They spent the weekend raving at an underground club.

• Noun (enthusiastic review):

  • The product received raves from early users.
  • His latest book got a rave in the newspaper.

• Noun (dance party):

  • We went to a rave in an old warehouse.
  • The city is known for its vibrant rave scene.

Advanced Usage

• "Rave review": An extremely positive review.

  • The play opened to rave reviews from every major critic.

• "Rave on": To continue talking enthusiastically or wildly about something.

  • He could rave on for hours about his favorite band.

Variants and Related Words

• Raver (noun): A person who attends raves or who talks wildly.

  • He's a dedicated raver who knows all the best DJs.

• Raving (adjective/adverb): Used for emphasis, meaning "complete" or "utterly."

  • He's a raving genius. (adjective)
  • She's raving mad. (adverb)

Synonyms

• Verb (praise): Gush, enthuse, rhapsodize.
• Verb (talk wildly): Rant, ramble, babble.
• Noun (party): Dance party, techno party.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Rave about/over: To praise someone or something enthusiastically.

  • She raved about the chef's new menu.

• Rave against/at: To protest or complain about something angrily and wildly.

  • The speaker raved against the injustice of the new law.

Related Idioms

• Stark raving mad: Completely insane or irrational.
  • The plan was so dangerous, I thought he was stark raving mad.

Noun

1. an extravagantly enthusiastic review
   • he gave it a rave
2. a dance party that lasts all night and electronically synthesized music is played
   • raves are very popular in Berlin

Verb

1. praise enthusiastically
   • She raved about that new restaurant
2. talk in a noisy, excited, or declamatory manner
3. participate in an all-night techno dance party