revved; revving
1
a
: to step up the number of revolutions per minute of
—often used with up
rev up the engine
b
: increase
—used with up
rev up production
2
: to drive or operate especially at high speed
—often used with up
3
: to make more active or effective
—used with up
revving up the economy
4
: to stir up : excite
—usually used with up
revved up the kids before bedtime
1
: to operate at an increased speed of revolution
—usually used with up
2
: to increase in amount or activity
—usually used with up
the campaign revved up
3
: to become more excited especially in anticipation
—usually used with up
the partygoers were revving up
1
revenue
2
reverse
3
review; reviewed
4
revised; revision
5
revolution
1
Revelation
2
reverend
Examples of rev in a Sentence
Verb
the team was revved up by the coach's do-or-die locker room speech
Recent Examples on the Web
Bethany Brown, People.com, 9 May 2025
That’s a whole lot of torque fill-in at launch and into the lower and middle rev range.
—Mark Ewing, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Will Graves, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 June 2025
And while 2017’s Mario Kart 8 Deluxe may have missed the exact launch of the original Nintendo Switch, fans worldwide can rev their engine’s right at the starting line this time around as Mario Kart World arrives day one for the upcoming Switch 2.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rev
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show current usage.
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Noun
Paul Hansen recalled hearing the engine rev before the vehicle jumped the curb and hit them.
—Bethany Brown, People.com, 9 May 2025
That’s a whole lot of torque fill-in at launch and into the lower and middle rev range.
—Mark Ewing, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
Yet rather than call a tow truck, the Steelers are revving the engine in the hopes their tires don’t spin in vain but find a little grip amid all that mud.
—Will Graves, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 June 2025
And while 2017’s Mario Kart 8 Deluxe may have missed the exact launch of the original Nintendo Switch, fans worldwide can rev their engine’s right at the starting line this time around as Mario Kart World arrives day one for the upcoming Switch 2.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rev
Cite this Entry
“Rev.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rev. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rev
1 of 2 noun
: a revolution of a motor
rev
2 of 2 verb
revved; revving
1
a
: to increase the revolutions per minute of (a motor)
b
: increase
—used with up
rev up production
2
: to make more active or effective
—used with up
needed to rev up the campaign
3
: excite sense 1
—usually used with up
revved the kids up
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