Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Advocating or engaged in revolution: Describes a person, group, or idea that supports or actively participates in a complete and often violent overthrow of a political system or social order.
   • Relating to or having the nature of a revolution: Pertaining to a fundamental, dramatic, and often rapid change in a system, especially in politics or society.
   • Markedly new or introducing radical change: Describing something that constitutes a complete departure from the old, introducing transformative and groundbreaking ideas or methods.

2. Noun:

   • A radical supporter of political or social revolution: A person who actively works for or fights in a revolution to bring about radical change.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The government suppressed revolutionary pamphlets calling for its overthrow.
  • The invention of the internet was a revolutionary development in communication.
  • She holds revolutionary views on economic reform.

• Noun:

  • The revolutionary was captured and imprisoned for plotting against the state.
  • Many revolutionaries fought for the country's independence.

Advanced Usage

• "revolutionary war": A war fought to achieve a political revolution, typically to overthrow a government or gain independence.

  • The American Revolutionary War resulted in independence from Britain.

• "revolutionary era/period": A specific historical time characterized by revolutionary activity and change.

  • The French Revolutionary era reshaped European politics.

Variants and Related Words

• Revolution (n): A forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favor of a new system; a dramatic and wide-reaching change.

  • The Industrial Revolution changed society profoundly.

• Revolutionize (v): To change something radically or fundamentally.

  • This new technology will revolutionize the industry.

• Counter-revolutionary (adj/n): Opposing a revolution; a person who opposes a revolution.

  • The regime accused him of being a counter-revolutionary.

Synonyms

• Adjective (radical change): Radical, transformative, groundbreaking, innovative, subversive.
• Noun (person): Insurgent, rebel, radical, mutineer, subversive.

Antonyms

• Adjective: Conservative, reactionary, moderate, traditional.
• Noun: Loyalist, traditionalist, conservative, reactionary.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "Revolutionary zeal": Great enthusiasm and energy for revolutionary causes.

  • He spoke with revolutionary zeal to the crowd.

• "Spark a revolution": To trigger or initiate a revolutionary movement.

  • Their protest aimed to spark a revolution.

Adjective

1. advocating or engaged in revolution
   • revolutionary pamphlets
   • a revolutionary junta
2. relating to or having the nature of a revolution
   • revolutionary wars
   • the Revolutionary era
3. of or relating to or characteristic or causing an axial or orbital turn
4. markedly new or introducing radical change
   • a revolutionary discovery
   • radical political views

Noun

1. a radical supporter of political or social revolution