verb
Uncommon
avenge
uh-VEHNJ
Avenge (verb) means to get retribution for a wrong or injury done to oneself or someone else. Example: “She swore to avenge her brother's murder.”
verb
1
To get retribution for a wrong or injury done to oneself or someone else.
"She swore to avenge her brother's murder."
"The knight vowed to avenge the fallen village."
How to use avenge
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo pay someone back for a wrong done to you or someone you care about, usually by punishing the wrongdoer.
Common mistake
Avenge usually takes a wrong or a person as its object ("avenge his death"), while "revenge" is more often used as a noun; don't confuse the two forms.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
avenge a death
avenge oneself
sworn to avenge
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Word forms
- Plural
- avenges
- Third person singular
- avenges
- Past tense
- avenged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She swore to _____ her brother's murder.
Etymology
From Old French avengier, from a- plus vengier ("to avenge"), rooted in Latin vindicare.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for avenge
See all rhymes for avenge →Frequently asked questions
What does “avenge” mean?
The word “avenge” means to get retribution for a wrong or injury done to oneself or someone else. In plain terms, to pay someone back for a wrong done to you or someone you care about, usually by punishing the wrongdoer.
How do you pronounce “avenge”?
“Avenge” is pronounced uh-VEHNJ (/əˈvɛnd͡ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “avenge” in a sentence?
Here is “avenge” used in a sentence: “She swore to avenge her brother's murder.”
What is another word for “avenge”?
Words with a similar meaning to “avenge” include even the score, get one's own back, settle the score and tar out.
What part of speech is “avenge”?
“Avenge” is a verb.
Where does the word “avenge” come from?
The word “avenge” comes from Latin. From Old French avengier, from a- plus vengier ("to avenge"), rooted in Latin vindicare.
Is “avenge” a common word?
“Avenge” is an uncommon word in modern English.
