avenge
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.”
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.
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.
Word Forms
avenged past tense, avenges plural, avenges singular
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.
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.