Revolution — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˌre-və-ˈlü-shən/ rev·o·lu·tion

Meaning & Definition of Revolution

Revolution (noun)

  1. a sudden, radical, or complete change
  2. a fundamental change in political organization; especially, the usually violent overthrow or renunciation of one government or ruler and the substitution of another by the governed
  3. activity or movement designed to effect fundamental changes in the socioeconomic situation

Revolution (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a rapid turning about on an axis or central point

    "revved the engine to 3000 revolutions per minute"

    similar: gyration, pirouette, reel, roll, rotation, spin, twirl, wheel, whirl
    related: circuit, circulation, ring, round, coil, curl, curve, spiral, twist, whorl, circle, orbit, eddy, swirl

  2. open fighting against authority (as one's own government)

    "the revolution by which the American colonies gained their independence from Great Britain necessitated going up against the world's most powerful army"

    similar: insurgence, insurgency, insurrection, mutiny, outbreak, rebellion, revolt, rising, uprising
    related: coup, coup d'état, overthrow, misprision, sedition, treachery, treason, sabotage, subversion
    near: counterinsurgency, counterrevolution

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Revolution

The most common words with a similar meaning to Revolution:

gyration, pirouette, reel, roll, rotation, spin, twirl, wheel, whirl, insurgence, insurgency, insurrection, mutiny, outbreak, rebellion, revolt, rising, uprising

Related Words for Revolution

circuit, circulation, ring, round, coil, curl, curve, spiral, twist, whorl, circle, orbit, eddy, swirl, coup, coup d'état, overthrow, misprision, sedition, treachery, treason, sabotage, subversion

Near Antonyms of Revolution

counterinsurgency, counterrevolution

Origin & Etymology of Revolution

Middle English revolucioun "rotation of the heavenly spheres around the earth, cyclical recurrence, completed motion around an axis, change of fortune," borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French revolucion "return of a celestial body to its point of departure, recurrence," borrowed from Medieval Latin revolūtiōn-, revolūtiō, going back to Late Latin, "a rolling back, return, recurrence," from Latin revolū-, variant stem of revolvere "to roll back to a starting point, (passive) travel in a circular course, return to a starting point" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action revolve

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Revolution

Words & Phrases Containing Revolution

green revolution, industrial revolution, solid of revolution, surface of revolution, the American Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, prerevolution

Frequently Asked Questions about Revolution

What does "Revolution" mean?

"Revolution" means a sudden, radical, or complete change. As a noun, it is defined as: a sudden, radical, or complete change. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Revolution"?

Other words for "Revolution" include gyration, pirouette, reel, roll, rotation, spin, twirl and wheel. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Revolution" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Revolution"?

There are 41 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Revolution". Common alternatives include gyration, pirouette, reel, roll, rotation, spin, twirl, wheel, whirl and insurgence.

How do you use "Revolution" in a sentence?

Examples of "Revolution" in a sentence: "revved the engine to 3000 revolutions per minute"; "the revolution by which the American colonies gained their independence from Great Britain necessitated going up against the world's most powerful army".

Is "Revolution" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Revolution" is a noun.

Is "Revolution" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Revolution" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Revolution"?

"Revolution" is pronounced /ˌre-və-ˈlü-shən/ and divided into syllables as rev·o·lu·tion.

What is the origin of the word "Revolution"?

"Revolution" comes from Middle English revolucioun "rotation of the heavenly spheres around the earth, cyclical recurrence, completed motion around an axis, change of fortune," borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French revolucion "return of a celestial body to its point of departure, recurrence," borrowed from Medieval Latin revolūtiōn-, revolūtiō, going back to Late Latin, "a rolling back, return, recurrence," from Latin revolū-, variant stem of revolvere "to roll back to a starting point, (passive) travel in a circular course, return to a starting point" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action revolve. First known use: 14th century.