Definition

1. Noun:

   • The act of harming or punishing someone in return for an injury or offense they have caused: "Revenge" refers to the action or desire to inflict harm or punishment on someone as retaliation for a wrong suffered.

2. Verb:

   • To inflict harm or punishment in return for (an injury or wrong): "Revenge" means to take action to hurt or punish someone because they have hurt you or someone else.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • He swore he would get revenge for the insult.
  • The attack was an act of revenge for the earlier raid.
  • She sought revenge against the company that wronged her.

• Verb:

  • He vowed to revenge his brother's death.
  • She spent years plotting to revenge the betrayal.
  • The hero sought to revenge the destruction of his village.

Advanced Usage

• "to take revenge (on someone for something)": to punish someone because they have done something wrong to you.
  • He took revenge on his rival for spreading the rumor.
• "in revenge (for something)": as an act of retaliation.
  • The statue was destroyed in revenge for the bombing.
• "to be revenged": (often passive) to have successfully taken revenge.
  • He was finally revenged on his enemies.
• "to revenge oneself (on/upon someone)": to take action to punish someone who has harmed you.
  • She revenged herself on her unfaithful partner.

Variants and Related Words

• Revengeful (adj): eager for revenge; vindictive.
  • He gave her a revengeful glare.
• Revengefulness (n): the quality of being revengeful.
• Avenger (n): a person who inflicts harm in return for an injury or wrong. (Note: This is related to the verb "avenge," which is a close synonym of "revenge" as a verb).

Synonyms

• Retaliation: the action of returning a military attack; counterattack.
• Retribution: punishment inflicted on someone as vengeance for a wrong or criminal act.
• Vengeance: punishment inflicted or retribution exacted for an injury or wrong.
• Reprisal: an act of retaliation.

Related Phrasal Verbs / Constructions

• "to get/have one's revenge": to finally achieve the act of punishing someone who wronged you.
  • After ten years, he finally got his revenge.
• "to seek revenge": to try to find a way to punish someone for a wrong.
  • The victim's family is seeking revenge.

Related Idioms

• "Revenge is a dish best served cold": This proverb suggests that revenge is more satisfying when it is not done immediately, but after time has passed, allowing for careful planning.
• "To exact revenge": to inflict revenge, often implying it is demanded or taken as a right.
  • He exacted a terrible revenge on the informant.
• "Out of revenge": motivated by a desire for retaliation.
  • He damaged the car out of revenge.

Noun

1. action taken in return for an injury or offense

Verb

1. take revenge for a perceived wrong
   • He wants to avenge the murder of his brother