avenge
B2Formal, Literary
Definition
Meaning
To inflict harm or punishment on someone because they have harmed or wronged you or someone else you care about.
To bring about justice or retribution for a perceived wrong, often with a strong sense of personal duty, honour, or emotional satisfaction.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically implies righteous punishment for a clear moral wrong, often on behalf of another. It carries a strong narrative, emotional, or dramatic connotation and is less common in casual speech than 'get revenge'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is used similarly in both varieties, primarily in formal or literary contexts.
Connotations
Connotes a formal, often archaic or heroic, sense of justice. Associated with tales of chivalry, honour, and epic narratives.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both varieties, largely confined to formal writing, literature, and dramatic speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
avenge [sb/sth]avenge [sb] on [sb]avenge [sth] by [doing sth]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to avenge a wrong”
- “blood for blood”
- “an eye for an eye (conceptual)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Very rare. Not used in standard business discourse.
Academic
Used in literary criticism, historical analysis, and philosophical discussions of justice and ethics.
Everyday
Very rare. Usually replaced by phrases like 'get back at' or 'get revenge on'.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He vowed to avenge his brother's death.
- The knight sought to avenge the honour of his lord.
- She avenged the insult with a cunning plan.
American English
- He was determined to avenge his partner's murder.
- The film's hero avenges his family's ruin.
- They vowed to avenge the defeat in the next election.
adverb
British English
- (No direct adverbial form of 'avenge')
American English
- (No direct adverbial form of 'avenge')
adjective
British English
- (No common adjectival form of 'avenge'; related adjective is 'avenging', as in 'the avenging angel')
American English
- (No common adjectival form of 'avenge'; related adjective is 'avenging', as in 'with avenging fury')
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The hero wanted to avenge his friend.
- In the story, he avenges his father's death.
- She swore she would avenge the betrayal, no matter how long it took.
- The general promised to avenge the army's humiliating defeat.
- Driven by a deep sense of honour, he spent years plotting to avenge the slight against his family's name.
- The novel explores the moral complexities of avenging a wrong, questioning whether violence truly brings justice.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a VENGEance mission. To AVENGE is to act on behalf of someone to bring VENGEance.
Conceptual Metaphor
JUSTICE IS A DEBT THAT MUST BE PAID (avenging settles the score).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'revenge' (месть) as a noun. 'Avenge' is a verb. The direct Russian translation often involves 'отомстить за (кого-то/что-то)'.
- Avoid using it for minor, petty grievances; it implies a serious wrong.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a noun (e.g., 'He wanted avenge.') instead of a verb.
- Confusing it with 'revenge'. (One avenges a person/wrong, one takes revenge on a person.)
- Using it in overly casual contexts where 'get back at' is more natural.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'avenge' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Avenge' is a verb meaning to inflict punishment for a wrong on behalf of someone else. 'Revenge' is primarily a noun (meaning the act of retaliation), though it can be a reflexive verb ('to revenge oneself'). 'Avenge' implies justice, while 'revenge' implies personal satisfaction.
You can avenge both. Common objects are a person ('avenge his brother') or an abstract wrong ('avenge the insult', 'avenge the defeat'). The core idea is righting a wrong.
No, it is relatively formal and literary. In everyday conversation, people are more likely to say 'get revenge for' or 'get back at'. It is frequent in historical fiction, fantasy, and dramatic contexts.
The most direct noun is 'vengeance'. 'Retribution' is also a close synonym. While 'revenge' is similar, it carries a more personal, less righteous connotation.
Explore