revenge
gb/ɹivˈɛnd͡ʒ/ us/ɹivˈɛnd͡ʒ/
B2
English
~ 8300
bosszú, bosszúállás, bosszúvágy, bosszúszomj, bosszút áll, megbosszul
NOUN
B2
1
bosszú
B2
bosszúállás
C1
Usage pattern:
revenge on [someone] for [something]
After years of bullying, he finally took revenge on his old classmates by exposing their messages online.
Évekig tartó zaklatás után végül bosszút állt régi osztálytársain azzal, hogy nyilvánosságra hozta az üzeneteiket az interneten.
The bomb was believed to be a revenge attack for the arrest of the gang leader.
Úgy vélték, hogy a bomba bosszúból végrehajtott támadás volt a bandavezér letartóztatása miatt.
She wanted revenge for how badly he had treated her family.
The film follows a woman on a brutal journey of revenge after her daughter is killed.
Instead of seeking revenge, the community focused on rebuilding and healing.
Learner examples
He planned revenge on the man who stole his car.
Azt tervezte, hogy bosszút áll azon a férfin, aki ellopta az autóját.
She wanted revenge for her brother’s death.
Bosszút akart állni a testvére haláláért.
The group attacked the police station in revenge for the arrests.
In the end, he decided that revenge was not a good answer.
They shouted that the bombing was revenge on their enemies.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "revenge" with "avenge". "Revenge" is usually a noun (to take revenge, to get revenge), while "avenge" is a verb (to avenge someone or something). The verb "revenge" exists but is rare; in modern English, it is usually better to say "take revenge on" or "get revenge on".
Meaning
harm done in return
Collocations
take revenge
|get revenge
|seek revenge
|revenge attack
|revenge killing
|sweet revenge
Synonyms
retaliation (A very close synonym, but can sound slightly more formal and is often used in legal, political, or military contexts.)
Antonyms
forgiveness (Opposite because it is the choice not to hurt or punish someone who has harmed you.)
Themes
emotions
|conflict
|crime
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The act of hurting or punishing someone because they hurt or harmed you first.
The act of deliberately harming, punishing, or hurting someone in return for a wrong or injury they caused you or someone close to you.
NOUN
C1
2
bosszúvágy
B2
bosszúszomj
C1
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s revenge for [something]
His thirst for revenge consumed him and ruined every other part of his life.
A bosszúvágya felemésztette, és tönkretette élete minden más részét.
The crime was not about money; it was pure revenge for a long‑running feud.
A bűncselekmény nem a pénzről szólt; tiszta bosszú volt egy régóta húzódó viszály miatt.
She refused to let revenge guide her decisions, even after everything that had happened.
Many online hate campaigns are fueled by revenge after breakups or public arguments.
The character’s slow turn from grief to revenge is the heart of the series.
Learner examples
He lived with a strong desire for revenge.
Erős bosszúvágy élt benne.
Her heart was full of revenge after the divorce.
A válás után tele volt a szíve bosszúvággyal.
The attack was done out of revenge, not for money.
Revenge was the main reason for his actions.
She tried to let go of revenge and move on.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes treat this emotional sense as always positive or justified because it is common in movies and games. In normal conversation, "revenge" as a feeling is often seen as negative or dangerous, so it is safer to say that someone is *driven by* revenge rather than that revenge is something good.
Meaning
desire to hurt in return
Collocations
desire for revenge
|thirst for revenge
|driven by revenge
|revenge fantasy
|out of revenge
|pure revenge
Synonyms
vengefulness (Focuses specifically on the emotional, unforgiving attitude of wanting to get back at others.)
Antonyms
mercy (Opposite because it means choosing kindness or restraint instead of acting on a desire to hurt someone back.)
Themes
emotions
|psychology
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A strong feeling that you want to hurt or punish someone because they hurt you first.
A powerful desire or motivation to hurt, punish, or harm someone in response to a wrong or injury they caused.
VERB
C2
FORMAL
3
bosszút áll
B2
megbosszul
C1
Usage pattern:
to revenge [oneself] on [someone] for [something]
She swore she would revenge herself on those who had betrayed her.
Megesküdött, hogy bosszút áll azokon, akik elárulták.
In the play, the prince seeks to revenge his father’s murder.
A darabban a herceg apja meggyilkolását akarja megbosszulni.
They planned to revenge themselves on the corrupt officials who had stolen their savings.
The defeated team returned the next season to revenge their earlier loss.
He waited patiently for years to revenge himself on his former business partner.
Learner examples
In the story, the hero wants to revenge himself on the king.
A történetben a hős bosszút akar állni a királyon.
She plans to revenge herself on the man who lied to her.
Azt tervezi, hogy bosszút áll azon a férfin, aki hazudott neki.
They come back to revenge their defeat in last year’s final.
He is ready to revenge himself on his enemies.
The movie shows a woman who tries to revenge her sister’s death.
Common mistake:
Learners often say *"He revenged me"* or *"She revenged him"*, which sounds wrong in modern English. The verb is rare and usually reflexive: *"She revenged herself on him"*. In everyday English, it is safer to use phrases with the noun: *"take revenge on"* or *"get revenge on"*.
Meaning
to punish in return
Collocations
revenge herself on
|revenge himself on
|revenge themselves on
|revenge a defeat
Synonyms
avenge ("Avenge" is more common as a verb in modern English and can sound heroic or formal, especially in phrases like "avenge his death".)
Antonyms
pardon (Opposite because it means officially or personally choosing not to punish someone for a wrong.)
Themes
emotions
|conflict
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To hurt or punish someone because they hurt you before; in modern English, usually said as "revenge yourself on someone" and mainly used in formal or literary style.
To hurt, punish, or harm someone in return for a wrong or injury they caused, typically used with a reflexive object such as "revenge oneself on" someone.
Grammar
Dictionary form
revenge
IPA
GB/ɹivˈɛnd͡ʒ/
US/ɹivˈɛnd͡ʒ/
Syllables & stress
re - venge (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (venge)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: revenge
- Plural: revenge
Verb
- Base: revenge
- 3rd Person Singular: revenges
- Present Participle: revenging
- Past: revenged
Word family
Expressions
get revenge (on [someone] for [something])
1/ɡˈɛt ɹivˈɛnd͡ʒ ˈɔn sˈʌmwˌʌn fɚ sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
informal
successfully pay someone back
To succeed in hurting or punishing someone because they hurt you first.
Examples
- He finally got revenge on his cheating business partner.
- She got revenge for the joke by posting an embarrassing video of him.
- The team got revenge on their rivals with a 4–0 win.
in revenge (for [something])
1/ˈɪn ɹivˈɛnd͡ʒ fɚ sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
as payback for something
Done as a way to answer or punish someone for something bad they did before.
Examples
- The car was set on fire in revenge for the arrest.
- He spread rumors about her in revenge for the criticism.
- They launched a cyber‑attack in revenge for the data leak.
out of revenge
1/ˈaʊt əv ɹivˈɛnd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
motivated by revenge
Because of a feeling of revenge; as the main reason to hurt or punish someone.
Examples
- She sent the private photos to his parents out of revenge.
- Many crimes are committed out of revenge rather than for money.
- He wondered if she broke his phone out of revenge.
revenge body
1/ɹivˈɛnd͡ʒ bˈɑdi/
fixed phrase
informal
improved body after breakup
A much fitter or more attractive body that someone gets after a breakup, mainly so that their ex‑partner will feel sorry or jealous.
Examples
- Magazines often praise celebrities for showing off a "revenge body" after a bad breakup.
- She joked that her gym routine was all about getting a revenge body.
- The idea of a revenge body can put unhealthy pressure on people after relationships end.
revenge porn
1/ɹivˈɛnd͡ʒ pˈɔɹn/
fixed phrase
non‑consensual sexual image sharing
The crime or act of sharing someone’s sexual photos or videos without their consent in order to hurt them, usually after a breakup or fight.
Examples
- Many countries have made revenge porn a criminal offense.
- She spoke publicly about her experience with revenge porn to help change the law.
- Social media companies are under pressure to remove revenge porn more quickly.
revenge sex
1/ɹivˈɛnd͡ʒ sˈɛks/
fixed phrase
informal
sex to upset an ex
Sex with a new person mainly to make a former partner feel bad or jealous after they hurt you.
Examples
- Her friends told her that revenge sex would just make her feel worse.
- The show treats revenge sex as a normal reaction after a breakup.
- He admitted he had revenge sex to get back at his ex‑girlfriend.
revenge tragedy
1/ɹivˈɛnd͡ʒ tɹˈæd͡ʒədi/
fixed phrase
literary
tragedy centered on revenge
A kind of play or story, especially from the past, where the main character tries to kill or hurt someone to pay back a murder or other terrible act.
Examples
- Shakespeare’s "Hamlet" is often described as a classic revenge tragedy.
- The film borrows many elements from the traditional revenge tragedy.
- In a typical revenge tragedy, the hero’s search for justice destroys him.
take revenge (on [someone] for [something])
1/tˈeɪk ɹivˈɛnd͡ʒ ˈɔn sˈʌmwˌʌn fɚ sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
harm someone in return
To hurt or punish someone because they hurt or harmed you earlier.
Examples
- She took revenge on her ex‑boss for firing her without warning.
- The villagers swore they would take revenge on the soldiers for burning their homes.
- He waited years to take revenge for the insult.
revenge is sweet
1/ɹivˈɛnd͡ʒ ˈɪz swˈit/
idiom
informal
enjoyment from successful revenge
People say this when someone feels happy and satisfied after they successfully hurt or punish a person who hurt them.
Examples
- As he watched his former boss get fired, he smiled and whispered, "Revenge is sweet."
- She knew revenge is sweet, but it didn’t fix the past.
- When their team finally beat the champions, the coach joked, "Revenge is sweet!"
revenge is sweet
2/ɹivˈɛnd͡ʒ ˈɪz swˈit/
idiom
satisfaction from revenge
People feel happy when they hurt someone who hurt them first.
Examples
- He smiled—revenge is sweet.
- When she beat her old rival, she thought, 'Revenge is sweet.'
seek revenge
1/sˈik ɹivˈɛnd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
try to punish someone back
To try to hurt someone because they hurt you first.
Examples
- He sought revenge on those who betrayed him.
- The main character spends the whole movie seeking revenge for his family’s death.
- She was determined to seek revenge after the insult.
- Rather than seeking revenge, she chose to rebuild her life.
- He left the gang because he was tired of always seeking revenge.