avenge
gb/əvˈɛnd͡ʒ/ us/əvˈɛnd͡ʒ/
C1
English
~ 27800
Senses
0 senses
Verb
formal
C1
action
1
punish to get justice for a wrong
To punish a person because that person hurt or killed someone, so that you bring justice for the bad thing done.
Usage pattern:
to avenge [someone] / [something] (on [someone])
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse 'avenge' and 'revenge'. 'Avenge' is a verb: you avenge someone or something (e.g., 'He will avenge his brother'). 'Revenge' is usually a noun: you take revenge on someone (e.g., 'He will take revenge on them'), or you get revenge. Also, learners sometimes say 'avenge on someone' without an object: it is more natural to say 'avenge his friend on them' or simply 'avenge his friend' or 'avenge himself on them'.
Synonyms
revenge (Often stronger, more personal or emotional, and now less common as a verb; can sound more focused on anger than on justice.)
|
retaliate (Focuses on reacting to harm with harm, especially between groups or countries; less about moral justice than 'avenge'.)
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take revenge (Very common phrase in modern English; more informal and emotional than the more formal, justice‑focused 'avenge'.)
Antonyms
forgive (Means choosing not to punish or stay angry for a wrong, which is the opposite of trying to punish to get justice.)
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pardon (Means officially deciding not to punish someone, which opposes the idea of punishing them for a wrong.)
Collocations
avenge his death
|avenge the death of [someone]
|avenge a wrong
|seek to avenge
|swear to avenge
|avenge herself on [someone]
Themes
justice
|violence
|emotions
|law
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He swore he would avenge his brother’s death, no matter how long it took.
- The rebels vowed to avenge the attack on their village.
- She spent years trying to avenge the injustice done to her family.
- In the film, a retired detective returns to avenge the murder of his partner.
- The king sent his army to avenge the insult to his honor.
Learner examples
- He wants to avenge his sister’s death.
- The hero tries to avenge the wrong done to his people.
- They planned to avenge their friends who were hurt in the war.
- She hopes the law will avenge the crime against her parents.
- The man waited many years to avenge his family.
Grammar
Dictionary form
avenge
IPA
GB/əvˈɛnd͡ʒ/
US/əvˈɛnd͡ʒ/
Syllables & stress
avenge (1 syllable)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: avenge
- 3rd Person Singular: avenges
- Present Participle: avenging
- Past: avenged
Word family
Expressions
avenge oneself on
1/əvˈɛnd͡ʒ wˌʌnsˈɛlf ˈɔn/
fixed phrase
formal
punish someone for wronging you
To punish someone because that person did something bad to you, so that you get personal justice or revenge.
Examples
- He finally avenged himself on the men who had framed him for the crime.
- In the story, the ghost returns to avenge himself on those who betrayed him.
- She dreamed of avenging herself on her former boss who had treated her unfairly.